Readers Questions
A reader recently asked a very practical question:
Q: We don't want to eat in restaurants every meal. Is there a supermarket in Stresa?
A: There is indeed a supermarket in Stresa; a small branch of the Carrefour chain. While it is not huge, it has a good selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and breads, all you need for some inexpensive meals and snacks. If you don't have access to a kitchen you can ask for prosciutto, buy yourself a loaf of bread (remember when we had our bread day? One of those rolls would work nicely) and have easy sandwiches for a picnic along the lake. Estimate about 100 grams of meat per sandwich when you order. If you do have a kitchen, there is a nice selection of fresh pasta in the back of the store, or packaged tortellini in flavors much more special than our American 'emergency' food. There's also a nice selection of wine...
The store is right in the center of town, but you'll never see it unless you know what to look for. The market has entrances on both Via P. Tomaso and Via Roma, and is just one street further into town than Piazza Cadorna. If you are walking away from the lake on Via P. Tomaso, the entrance is on your right. On both streets the entrances are recessed, and there is no visible signage outside. Here is the entrance to Carrefour on Via P. Tomaso:
As you can see, you really can't see the entrance to the Carrefour market unless you look for it.
Although hidden outside, inside the store is surprisingly large enough and well enough stocked.
For example, there is packaged tortellini in flavors I'm almost certain you are not used to. These packages are of tortellini al tartufo bianco, and agnolotti al brasato.
The store is right in the center of town, but you'll never see it unless you know what to look for. The market has entrances on both Via P. Tomaso and Via Roma, and is just one street further into town than Piazza Cadorna. If you are walking away from the lake on Via P. Tomaso, the entrance is on your right. On both streets the entrances are recessed, and there is no visible signage outside. Here is the entrance to Carrefour on Via P. Tomaso:
As you can see, you really can't see the entrance to the Carrefour market unless you look for it. 
Although hidden outside, inside the store is surprisingly large enough and well enough stocked.
For example, there is packaged tortellini in flavors I'm almost certain you are not used to. These packages are of tortellini al tartufo bianco, and agnolotti al brasato.There are two checkouts at the front of the store. You'll be asked if you want a sachetto, a bag, for your groceries. There is a few euro cents charge for the standard plastic bag. Or, you can do what I did and buy the reusable burlap shopping bag. It made a nice souvenir, and has become my strongest shopping bag at home. And, not bad either that it reminds me of Stresa every time I use it.
Category Article food, letters from readers, news and information, stresa
