Secrets and curiosities in the recipes of our Executive Chefs
The Executive Chefs of Laqua Collection restaurants are talented young people, who started out from Villa Crespi under the wing of Chef Cannavacciuolo, and landed in different corners of Italy to keep up the good name of his cuisine.
Chefs Bertone, Suriano and Somma tell us about three of their dishes and how they tie in with the Chef’s cooking philosophy.
Chef Gianni Bertone – Veal with tuna sauce
At the helm of the charming Bistrot at Laqua by the Lake is Chef Gianni Bertone, an infectious smile and brilliant mind in the kitchen. His Vitello Tonnato (veal with tuna sauce) is among the unmissable starters at the restaurant signed by Cannavacciuolo in Pettenasco, on Lake Orta; it is not the traditional Piedmontese recipe, but the aim is to arouse the same emotions in the guest as the classic dish.
The base is a very thin carpaccio of raw Magatello, seasoned with powder of katsuobushi and capers. The course would not be complete without tuna mayonnaise and a mustard sauce with strong notes, which together impart flavor and texture. To adorn and enhance the flavors while giving crunchiness, chips of sea lettuce and tapioca.
Nevertheless, the real magic happens at the table, where the last step of preparation before tasting is accomplished: the commis chef is in charge of pouring over the raw meat a special Dashi brothmade with a beef sauce, which thanks to its high temperature will complete the cooking of magatello in front of the guest.
An appetizer that celebrates Chef Cannavacciuolo’s iconic Tonno Vitellato, going back to the origins of the dish and innovating it with Chef Gianni Bertone’s expertise.
Curious to try it? We await you at Laqua by the Lake!
Chef Marco Suriano – Rabbit Cappelletti
A native Ligurian, Chef Suriano began his journey at Cannavacciuolo Group from Villa Crespi, and then came to lead the brigade at Laqua Vineyard, the collection’s latest location in Terricciola, in the province of Pisa.
Rabbit cappelletti, carrot cream, eucalyptus infusion, zuppa forte is a dish featured in his kitchen since the opening of the 1-Michelin-starred restaurant, and was so beloved by guests that it has now become a true icon. They are the ones who confirm that the specialty of the dish lies in the sweet flavor given by the carrot, accompanied by the balsamic notes of eucalyptus.
The tribute to Chef Cannavacciuolo is zuppa forte, typical of Campania, but it differs from the original recipe because it contains rabbit entrails instead of pork. The reason is the willing to use 100% of the main ingredient, for a philosophy of cooking without waste.
The cappelletti filling, in fact, in addition to classic Ligurian ingredients such as Parmesan cheese and marjoram, is made with rabbit meat, and the sauce that accompanies the dish comes from the bones. A combination of flavors that celebrates both Marco Suriano’s home region and Chef Cannavacciuolo’s cuisine.
Curious to try it? We await you at Laqua Vineyard!
Chef Nicola Somma – Spaghetti, sea urchins, almonds and cardamom quinoa
Like so many of his colleagues , Chef Nicola Sommajoined Cannavacciuolo Group starting out from Villa Crespi, earned his first Michelin star at the helm of the Bistrot in Turin, and finally returned to his native Campania to lead the kitchen at Laqua CountrysideChef Cannavacciuolo’s childhood home in the hills of Vico Equense, which was opened to guests in 2021.
The birth of Spaghetti, sea urchins, almonds and cardamom quinoa lies in Chef Cannavacciuolo’s childhood memories. Sea urchins were a valuable catch, treasures to be shared to enhance the flavor of spaghetti, making this combination a typical traditional dish.
Starred and talented Chef Somma reinterprets the dish, adding a crunchy and innovative component: almonds and cardamom quinoa are a surprising combination for him, the result of trials and attempts. The flavor of dried fruit also goes perfectly with the bitterness of sea urchins, making this first course a signature dish at Cannavacciuolo Countryside restaurant.
Curious to try it? We await you at Laqua COUNTRYSIDE!