Aristocratic game dish from the Casale area

The fact that the area covered by the modern-day county of Alessandria was conspicuous by the absence of noble families and royal courts has greatly influenced its local dishes. Virtually all are of simple peasant origin.

The exception to the rule is Casale Monferrato where the presence of the powerful Gonzaga family from Mantua was felt throughout the sixteenth century and consequently left some slight traces in terms of food preparation. The most obvious is the presence of a cake called “Sbrisolona” normally only found in Mantua and its environs. The recipe which follows is of noble provenance and comes from Casale, its name is “valmis”. The term “valmis” was used during the Renaissance and was applied to eye-catching dishes of mixed game.

The famous gastronomic expert Giovanni Goria surmises that this dish is connected to the Gonzaga Court.

The preparation of this dish requires patience, time and care but is not particularly difficult. It is mouth-watering and will grace any table (should it be prepared during the gaming season the quail and guinea fowl mentioned below can be replaced with partridge and pheasant).