Partnership between Ferrari and Chef Massimo Bottura is a table set for success
After a two-year closure, Ferrari’s legendary restaurant in Modena has reopened. Michelin-starred Chef Massimo Bottura and architect and designer India Mahdavi have teamed up to reimagine Ferrari Ristorante Cavallino in Modena, Italy. The eatery originally best known for who dined there, now hopes to become a destination for food and design lovers alike.
First opened in 1950 across the way from the automaker’s factory in what used to be a stable and farmhouse, Cavallino has stood for decades as a symbol of the automaker’s deep bond to the Emilia-Romanga region. It was also a favorite of founder Enzo Ferrari, who was known to wine and dine VIP clients, Formula 1 drivers and even visiting royalty there. Enzo liked it so much that he was known to eat there twice a day until his death in 1988. The restaurant continued to operate following his passing, but eventually shut down in 2019.
The Parisian architect has attempted to stay true to restaurants roots, while updating it for 2021. The main room features a high ceiling, red and ivory terracotta floor and oak-paneled walls adorned with pixelated Prancing Horse-patterned wallpaper and memorabilia. Enzo’s own private room has been fully restored, so that it looks just as it did when the auto legend was dining there daily.
Meanwhile, the world renowned chef Bottura, who is from Modena, has entrusted Cavallino’s menu to head chef Riccardo Forapani. The chef, who was trained at Bottura’s Osteria Francescana, has focused on delivering his own modern day take on the region’s cuisine, and has included dishes like ricotta-filled tortellini served in butter and sage, Mora Romagnola pork ribs and zuppa inglese – a traditional layered dessert.
Ferrari Ristorante Cavallino is now open seven days a week, and tables can be booked through the automaker’s website. The eatery’s reopening comes the same month that Ferrari Lifestyle launched its first high-end fashion collection, showing the marque believes the Ferrari name can be used to sell more than just supercars.
