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Val Di Vara Fish And Chips

Let’s talk about Val Di Vara Fish and Chips. No, that’s not a typo. It’s an Italian fish and chip shop. Yes, in the heart of the Italian Riviera. It sounds like a joke, but it’s deliciously real.

The Story Behind the Fryer

This place is run by Marco Vessichelli, a local who had a crisis of identity. He loved the Ligurian sea and its anchovies. But he was obsessed with British comfort food.

So, he didn’t open a pizza joint. He opened a chippy. The locals thought he was crazy. Tourists thought they were dreaming.

Now, it’s a pilgrimage site for hungry hikers on the Cinque Terre trails. Imagine eating British-style cod while overlooking terraced vineyards. That’s Val Di Vara.

The Quirky Menu Magic

The menu is a beautiful, confused mess. You get classic cod with mushy peas. But the batter is lighter, like a tempura godmother visited.

Then they hit you with the salsa verde. It’s parsley, capers, and garlic. Not vinegar. It’s genius.

And the chips? They are triple-cooked, Italian-style. Fluffy inside, crispy outside, dusted with rosemary. Yes, rosemary on chips. Your British granddad would faint, then ask for seconds.

Feste - Parco Avventura Val di VaraFeste - Parco Avventura Val di Vara

Funny Details That Stick

The shop is basically a wooden shack with a few plastic chairs. No Wi-Fi. No fancy decor. Just the smell of frying oil and the sea.

One “fun fact”: the owner once served a monk. The monk ordered two portions. He ate them while chanting. True story? I choose to believe it.

Also, they sell focaccia bread on the side. Because why not? It’s Italy. The focus on local ingredients is obsessive. The fish is caught that morning. The lemons are from the tree out back.

Why This is Just Fun

This is cultural fusion at its goofiest. It’s a love letter to two cuisines that should never meet. But they did, and they’re best friends.

Menu at Val Di Vara Fish and Chip Shop fast food, BrechinMenu at Val Di Vara Fish and Chip Shop fast food, Brechin

You can order in broken English. The owner will reply in broken Italian. Everyone laughs. Then you eat with your hands, no shame.

It’s a tiny, weird, wonderful rebellion against culinary snobbery. Who says Italy can’t do chips? Or that England can’t use good olive oil?

The Verdict

If you’re ever hiking the Ligurian coast, seek this place out. Follow the smell of batter mixed with basil. Look for the line of sweaty tourists holding paper cones.

Order the “Fritto Misto Britannico.” It’s cod, prawns, and fried zucchini. It will confuse your taste buds in the best way.

Val Di Vara Fish and Chips is proof that food rules are meant to be broken. And that a good story is worth the extra calories. Go. Eat. Laugh.