Favorite restaurant and what to order?
My favorite restaurant in Bologna is Trattoria della Santa, a cozy spot that has the best of the city’s extraordinary culinary tradition. For primi, I always order the tagliatelle al ragù or tortellini in brodo (don’t even think about asking for tortelli alla panna or the owner will have something to say). For secondo, get the classic cotoletta alla bolognese with a side of chicory sautéed with chili.
Your favorite Italian weekend getaway?
For me, the little port of Corricella on the island of Procida was love at first sight. The beautiful area is where Massimo Trosi’s Il Postino (1955) and Leonardo DiCaprio’s The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) were filmed, and as soon as you get to Corricella, you’ll be obsessed with the colors of the little houses and the tranquility of the marina. Don’t miss the spaghetti al granchio (spaghetti with crab) at Il Pescatore.
Who’s your inspiration / favorite Italian designer (or artist, architect, painter, photographer)?
One of my icons is Italian photographer Paolo Roversi, whom I share some similarities with: we come from the same region in Italy, moved to Paris when we were 18, and love never-ending meals with plenty of red wine and great conversations. Although he’s based in Paris, my utopian dream is for him to come shoot Bologna. His “Studio Luce” is aptly named, since his photography makes you feel both at home and inspired–some raw emotion we really need these days!
How would you describe Italy in one sentence?
L’Italia è “tanta” (Italy is “a lot”). The elegance here is irreplicable.
