Obviously as a Brunello wine lover, I have to write a few lines about Siena's La Grotta di Santa Caterina. The restaurant's well versed chef is called 'Bagoga', which is the Sienese's nickname for anybody moving to Siena from Montalcino, the home of the famous Brunello wines. But unlike Gianni Brunelli (the Montalcino born founder of Siena's restaurant Le Logge), Pierino Fagnani didn't come to Siena to open a restaurant. He tried his luck with the Palio. No not in the medieval parade but on the back of a horse.
It seems it didn't take long though, before he realized that he'd be better off frying onions than circling piazza del Campo as a jockey in a rather mad race. Which is how he came to open his own restaurant.
Like a few other great restaurants in town Bagoga has joined the Girogustando initative, which organizes total foodie evenings with chefs from different regions in Italy sharing a kitchen. This Thursday night will see joint venture between Sienese Bagoga and a the chef from restaurant Lo Sperone near Trapani.
It seems it didn't take long though, before he realized that he'd be better off frying onions than circling piazza del Campo as a jockey in a rather mad race. Which is how he came to open his own restaurant.
Like a few other great restaurants in town Bagoga has joined the Girogustando initative, which organizes total foodie evenings with chefs from different regions in Italy sharing a kitchen. This Thursday night will see joint venture between Sienese Bagoga and a the chef from restaurant Lo Sperone near Trapani.
Wondering what two guys from Tuscany and Sicily could possibly plan to cook up together? I've wanted to translate the menu of the evening into English, but I had to give in. Or do you know of the proper gourmet translation for Bruciuluana alla Palermitana or Gallo Indiano?
But whatever the ingredients hiding behind Palermo and India style names - I'm sure it's all going to be mouthwatering.
GIROGUSTANDO (click to see the menu in Italian and the list of Tuscan and Sicilian wines of the evening), Thursday 18th of October
The kitchen wizard from restaurant Lo Sperone will especially travel up from the province of Trapani in Sicily to join the team in Siena's restaurant La Grotta di Caterina.
Via della Galluzza, 26
Phone +39 0577 28 22 08 (call beforehand to be sure to get a table).
Price 35€ (wines included!)