The largest Italian solidarity campaign in the restaurant industry, involving restaurants, chefs, and everyone sensitive to the issue. In 2024, the initiative reached its 10th edition
written by Erika Mantovan
Torno, 12 October 2024 – Il Sereno is taking part in “Ristoranti contro la fame“, the largest Italian solidarity campaign in the restaurant sector, involving restaurants, chefs and all those interested in the issue. In 2024, the initiative reaches its 10th edition.
On this occasion, Chef Raffaele Lenzi said: “Joining the campaign was natural; the initiative is committed to eliminating, or at least reducing, a problem that affects all of humanity: hunger. As a restaurant we can do little, but through communication we can do a lot“. We fully share this sentiment, which is why we actively contributed to the day by taking part in a solidarity lunch that focused on the simple cuisine and flavours of Italy, as well as the creative style of the chef. The menu, specially created for the event, also included some dishes from the “Contrasts and Contradictions” menu offered at the restaurant of the luxury hotel on Lake Como.
The messages that emerge are rich; the search for expressiveness attracts and creates diverse, more powerful content. It’s not about vanity, but the desire to make people feel good, to avoid creating distance and to search for flavours that evoke the season and the place. Among the dishes presented was the “Neapolitan pumpkin with Rue”, a dish that was not only visually appealing but also rich in contrasts, with a crunchy effect hidden under a sweet-sour foam enriched with rue oil (which adds a bitter note and has natural anti-inflammatory properties). The atmosphere of the autumn forest is evoked by the chestnut Spaghetti and undergrowth, with blueberry drops adding a touch of sweetness.
The involvement of the entire kitchen brigade was also evident in the Maracucciata dish, which was specially brought in from the Cilento region for the occasion.
The lunch ended with a Bread and Oil Cake, a true symbol of “Made in Italy”, with a light and rich texture, accompanied by ricotta and a surprisingly tasty and delicate olive oil ice-cream, in keeping with the chef’s mantra of lightness.It was paired with the drink “Umbre“, a play on words that evokes both Umbria and shadows (“umbra” in Latin), perfectly complementing the atmosphere and the menu.Created by Michele Innocenzi, assistant bar manager to Don Vidura Nilaksha Colambage, the cocktail contains Rye Whiskey, Liquore Strega, Amaro Vagabondo, Coffee and Orange.”Umbre” was born from the desire to give new life to the coffee left over from breakfast: dried and infused with orange and whiskey, it’s reused to create a light but aromatic espresso. The orange peels, frozen and used as needed, are part of the bar’s programme to reduce waste. This drink could be seen as a reinterpretation of the espresso martini.
The recipe:
4 cl vodka
2 cl Liquore Strega
1 cl Amaro VagabondoBlack coffee
Slice of orange
Info Events Ristoranti Contro la Fame