A Perfect Blend of Ethics and Aesthetics: Al Gatto Verde opens in the heart of the Modena countryside, a creative extension of Casa Maria Luigia with Jessica Rosval's culinary expertise. What can we expect from Massimo Bottura's new restaurant?
Al Gatto Verde
It's opening on September 20th Al Gatto Verde at Casa Maria Luigia, Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore’s guesthouse in the heart of the Modenese countryside. The restaurant is located inside the inner courtyard of Acetaia Maria Luigia, lovingly restored over the past year with 1,400 traditional balsamic vinegar barrels dating from 1910 to 1980. Acetaia ML features contemporary art among the barrels and wood beams.
Al Gatto Verde embodies the synthesis between Ethics and Aesthetics. The venue was designed to minimize the impact on the environment, approaching every detail with an eye on sustainability. Solar panels provide electricity while a zero-waste approach is applied to all other energetic resources, making sure to recycle and reuse every emission produced. Al Gatto Verde is a celebration of the past three years of Tòla Dòlza, a Sunday "non-barbecue" wood-fired feast of smoky flavors launched in June 2020.
Kitchen life revolves around the wood burning oven, similar to the one used to prepare breakfast at Casa Maria Luigia. The challenge is to elevate fire and everything related to it – heat, smoke, grill –with the finest Italian artisanal ingredients. Massimo Bottura elaborates: “Being contemporary means knowing everything and forgetting everything. Merging different culinary techniques with fire has created a one-of-a-kind NOT BBQ.”
Chef Jessica Rosval, culinary director at Casa Maria Luigia since the opening in 2019, and her team welcome the unexpected: “Our kitchen is surrounded by vineyards and fields and lit by fire. This magical place escapes limiting definitions and allows our creativity to run free.”
The kitchen features a Universo artisanal grill produced in Tuscany and a wood-fired oven made in Modena. The kitchen surfaces with hidden induction cooking top are by RAK ceramics. At Chef Rosval's side stands sous chef Alessia Belladonna, on the kitchen team since 2021. The front of house is led by restaurant manager Maria Cristina Messori, former maître at Roots social restaurant where chef Rosval is also the culinary director. The team is completed by maître Denis Bretta, part of Francescana Family since 2020, and sommelier Valentina Bardini, previously at Casa Maria Luigia.
Former stables were converted into the open kitchen and dining room of Al Gatto Verde using materials such as wood, raffia, and stone in myriad tones of green and hay mirroring the surrounding countryside. Artworks by Mike Bidlo, American conceptualist, play on the NOT-theme with paintings Not Pollock, Not Stella and Not Warhol. Multimedia artworks such as FATE by Jack Pierson, Cash Cow by Andy Warhol, The Fotomatic series by Franco Vaccari and portraits of Jackson Pollock by Gregory Greenfield-Sanders continue to explore themes of identity and authenticity.
Sculptures by Sandro Chia, Mimmo Paladino, Gavin Turk and Jim Dine animate the outdoor courtyard with lyrical and poetic gestures. Renowned lighting designer Davide Groppi from Piacenza curated both the Acetaia ML and Al Gatto Verde. Table lamps “Post-Prandium” (after lunch) recall kitchen soup ladles and were designed exclusively for the restaurant. The dining tables are handcrafted by Riva 1920 in oak, a symbol of longevity, with 10-year-aged black cedar at the base recalling a drop of balsamic vinegar.
The green dining chairs are by Thonet. Exterior tables by Porro are lacquered in dark green and yellow to echo the colors of the Acetaia and paired with rope chairs by Varaschin. Artisanal green mosaic kitchen tiles are locally produced by Attica. The stone flooring by Kronos uses the most innovative water-filtering stucco technique developed in collaboration with Mapei for the recovery of rainwater with underground cisterns. Morandi Interni crafted the wood paneling and the custom-made cocktail bar. Interior designer Catia Baccolini worked closely with Massimo and Lara on the design concept and selection of materials. Official opening date: September 20th. The venue will be open to the public Wednesday through Sunday evenings, service starting at 7:30 p.m.
Reservations: www.casamarialuigia.com/it/al-gatto-verde
Guided tours and balsamic vinegar tastings every day at 6:00 PM at Acetaia Maria Luigia: www.casamarialuigia.com/it/acetaia-maria-luigia
All photos from Lido Vannucchi
