Looking for recipes using Menton lemons? Treat yourself to this updated guide.

In lemon, everything is good. This is the premise that Luisa Delpiano Inversi relied on in 2017 when she published her book #Citron @Menton. The founder of Pasta Piemonte - creator of Menton lemon ravioli - intended to meet a customer demand. "I saw that when people came to the shop, they wanted recipes. We had a small card printed with information on how to prepare our pasta, but we felt they wanted more. So we said to ourselves: why not publish a book?" she recalls. Specifying that the beautiful book published by Sahm already existed, but at the time, it did not mention the protected geographical indication - obtained by the Menton golden fruit in 2015. Hence the interest in an alternative.

"When I launched this idea, I didn't know any publishing houses. So I spoke to a lawyer friend who got me to change the company's statutes so I could publish it myself," adds Luisa. Since then, she has been working to promote local gastronomy and products through this channel. For the content of the book, the Italian woman who fell in love with Menton racked her brains. "I talked to everyone around me - especially the gastronomy professionals I met at trade fairs - and I asked them to offer me a recipe." Among them: Mauro Colagreco, Luc Gamel, Bruno Laffargue...

In order to promote the lemon - not chemically treated - more generally, Luisa has added tips for its use in cooking, for cleaning, for health, beauty, etc. As well as historical elements, tips and a few anecdotes.

The first reissue, in 2020 , was justified by a stock shortage. The third edition, which took place in early 2025, was however carried out for three clearly identified reasons. Firstly, it was a question of changing patronage. "At the time, the Amatrice earthquake had just taken place. We wondered what we could do to help and we thought of donating part of the sales to the Campagna Amica foundation, which works to promote agriculture in Italy," explains Luisa. Aid of 1,800 euros was thus allocated.

Some new recipes

This time, it was decided to target a local beneficiary. More specifically, in favor of the Roya. "I've been traveling the valley since I was 8, when my parents bought a house in Dolceacqua. I've been very attached to it ever since," emphasizes the Piedmontese woman. Through Emanuela Dalmasso - from the association Remontons la Roya - the choice was therefore made to support the Roya Chestnut Conservatory.

For every book sold, three euros will be donated to the structure , created by producers at the end of 2022, to develop a chestnut industry in the valley. With several objectives: to promote chestnuts without inputs and to offer 100% local production, or even "to protect this unique agro-ecosystem as a response to the challenges of climate change and food autonomy" raised by storm Alex.

In line with the work of rehabilitating the chestnut heritage undertaken since 2007 by the Agricultural Land Association (AFA), the Conservatory is carrying out several actions: the revitalization of the Roya chestnut grove through prospecting and bringing chestnut land back into production; the diversification of products through the creation of a processing workshop (flour, canning, etc.); the conservation of the chestnut heritage, its renewal and its promotion through the creation of an arboretum of chestnut trees adapted to the territory. "When they are able to produce their chestnut flour, I will be able to make pasta with it," promises Luisa. Who already sells the cream of the conservatory in her shop on rue Partouneaux.

Second change: the editorial. It is now signed by the mayor of Menton and president of the Carf, Yves Juhel, replacing his predecessor Jean-Claude Guibal. The third modification? It was made to the recipes themselves. Mainly because certain situations have changed. Thus, the Greta recipe has been replaced by a proposal from Jean-Claude Brugel, Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France) and teacher at the Paul-Valéry high school. A chef from Tende has also made his appearance, in the person of Marc Lanteri, now based in Castagnito. An Italian commune whose name is precisely reminiscent of... chestnuts.

The book can be found in the tourist offices of Roya, Menton and Sospel; at the Maison de la Presse and the Librairie de la Presse (Menton), on the stands of the Conservatoire de la Châtaigne, at Da Bruna Bazaar (Tende), at the Prieuré (Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende), at La Casa des Merveilles (La Brigue), as well as in the premises of Remontons la Roya (Fontan). Price: 17 euros.