Favorite restaurant and what to order?  

I’m a creature of habit. I’ve been going to Pompiere in Rome’s Jewish ghetto since I was a child with my father. In fact, I still sit at the same table and order the same thing: tagliolini al limone. 

Your favorite Italian weekend getaway?

In this case, I am not a creature of habit. I’m always curious and take the weekends as my chance to explore new places (when not in our own farmhouse in Umbria). My latest discovery is usually my favorite, and I’m currently blown away by Sextantio in Santo Stefano di Sessanio in Abruzzo. In fact, I am so smitten with this place, that I’m organizing my next week in Italy tour there. 

Who’s your inspiration / favorite Italian designer (or artist, architect, painter, photographer)?

If I had to pick one (and that’s an incredibly hard question to answer!) I think I would say Bronzino. I could definitely live with a Bronzino portrait in my living room. 

What part of Italy can you not live without?

That one is easy: dolce far niente. Italians have perfected the fine art of doing nothing. It’s not easy to achieve in our world today, but more necessary than ever. (If you want to incorporate more of this into your life, my daughter Sophie Minchilli has a book on the subject coming out in April 2021.)

How would you describe Italy in one sentence? 

Italy is the speed bump that forces you to slow down and enjoy the scenery. 

Your favorite dish and why? 

Can I name an ingredient instead? Cheese. All cheese. And not just because I love eating cheese, but because behind each of the myriad cheeses from all over Italy is a story. Each wheel, chunk, or slice of cheese in Italy usually has a person behind it. And that person is part of a history that I want to be a part of too.