Sophia Loren Original Italian Food opens this week in Florence, the first outpost of a group of restaurants offering food that's deeply rooted in the traditions of Campania.
There are many places dedicated to the great star of Italian and international cinema all over the world, but this is the first project born with her consent and collaboration. “This new adventure is the natural evolution of my way of facing life with curiosity and enthusiasm," says Loren. "For me, living means having new experiences, getting passionate, experimenting, working on new projects because all this is a pretext to get back into the game, to continue learning. When the project was proposed to me, I had no doubts because this restaurant embodies some of the things I love most: Italian cuisine, the moments of conviviality linked to it and then several of my characters are in some way linked to the kitchen."
Gennaro Esposito, chef of the two-star Michelin-rated Torre del Saracino near Naples created the restaurant menu while Francesco Martucci, the pizzaiolo behind I Masanielli in Caserta, handles the pizza. Pastry chef Carmine Di Donna, a long-time colleague of Esposito, oversees the dolci.
The new restaurant and pizzeria opened its doors the day after the 2021 Oscars – the first day of the reopening of restaurants in Italy's so-called yellow zone, and it marks the first in a series of international outposts.
Photo: Costa Group
An ambitious project, Sophia Loren Original Italian Food is the vision of Luciano Cimmino, a Campania-born entrepreneur and president of Pianoforte Holding which owns the brands Yamamay, Carpisa, and Jaked. Locations in Naples and Milan will follow, followed by openings abroad in Dubai, Miami, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
The new location spans over three levels for 1,500 square meters, equipped with outdoor terraces that seat up to 60 people, which were set up immediately per the government decree. The sophisticated, inviting restaurant was designed by Studio Redaelli e Associati, in collaboration with Costa Group, a company specialized in the design and furnishings for Food & Beverage for over 40 years. Franco Costa, President of the Costa Group, comments “it was a privilege to have participated in this magnificent project with the creation of unique and memorable furnishings."
Click through the slideshow above for pics of the new locale. Photography: Costa Group