Once Rudy made contact, the decision to take over management of the restaurant was “immediate.” Though the restaurant, which had once enjoyed a certain fame, had fallen into decay and “lost a bit of its edge,” Rudy and his wife, Patrizia, felt immediately at home, “both physically and, above all, culturally and politically.” They were convinced right away it was important “to restore dignity and prestige to the history the place had behind it, to return to being a point of reference in a climate and in a city where realities like these were dying out.” In short order, Rudy and Patrizia were able with friends to raise the funds to support their new adventure.
The general idea was to open “a popular trattoria,” with good quality food at a reasonable price – traditional Milanese dishes, as well as simple and somewhat obsolete dishes. And from our personal experience – having ordered mains of risotto, pork T-bone, and beautiful salad that were accompanied by a a nice bottle of wine chosen by Rudy himself – we can attest both to the quality of the traditional approach and to the reasonableness of the price. But as Rudy and his son, Elia, note, time has brought some concessions to the ethnic cuisine – “thanks to the kitchen brigade almost entirely originating from Bangladesh.”
Rudy and Patrizia also had a goal to recreate a meeting place, “a new agora where people on the left could meet and therefore recognize each other.” And they wanted to ensure that it was a place that existed outside of “stereotypes and fashions,” a place that distinguished itself by having little in line with what has been described by Rudy as “the logic of the now overwhelming ‘Milan to drink’ scene.”
To achieve all, Rudy and Patrizia had their work cut out for them. They inherited a “bare and ill-equipped place” that so often seems to define “poor left-wing places.” Wanting instead to create a place of beauty, which they believe to be an important component of any successful restaurant, Rudy and Patrizia refreshed the restaurant. They started with new furnishings. Then they placed poems by Yeats, Brel, and other great authors around the venue to greet patrons. And they placed the bold inscription “Long live the rebels” above the counter, as well as photos of “illustrious characters who have made history and have remained in our hearts for their personality and their lifestyle.” (see, accompanying video) There is even a blow-up of Pepe Mujica (the ex-president of Uruguay) that is positioned in the window of the restaurant.
Above:
The back dining room, with memorabiila
Video Courtesy of:
WW
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