"In Northern Italy, an extensive network of canals flows from the lakes, under the streets, and into hundreds of rice fields, producing the supreme carnaroli Italian risotto rice that you’ll find at restaurants like Erba Brusca. This spot is south of the Naviglio Pavese canal, but well worth the 15-minute taxi ride from the Porta Genova metro stop. On most nights, you can walk in uninvited, pull up a chair at the communal table, and feel like you've escaped the city for a countryside trattoria. Go in hungry for the tasting menu to experience the versatility of the kitchen—you’ll get things like eggplant risotto with sour cream, basil, dukka, and pickled raisins. At lunchtime, the outdoor garden is a highly coveted reservation for in-the-know Milanese." - Elizabeth De Filippo-Jones
