Evviva Maria Trattoria Veloce in Conversano, Apulia, pays homage to the ancient culinary heritage of a region naturally devoted to gastronomy, an activity that was awarded and reported shortly after opening. Not only "recchietelle" (in Bari dialect), which are larger than the classic ones and harmoniously embrace any kind of condiment, but plenty of other delicacies prepared by former Pashà chef Maria Cicorella.
Introduction
Corso Umberto shyly cuts Conversano, to lead the glutton to a magical place: Evviva Maria Trattoria Veloce. It is a corner of Puglia where time seems to stand still and where the beauty of slow living has not been spoiled by the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
At the stove, ever-present, is Maria Cicorella - until 2018 chef of the Michelin-starred Pashà Restaurant - capable of leading guests on a journey of getting to know Puglia “at the table,” the kind that makes the mouth water and the eyes moisten. And what makes people excited, first and foremost, are her splendid orecchiette di Conversano, which the chef explains, "compared to the others are definitely larger, calloused and able to better hold the sauce and seasoning. A trademark of ours and a real treat."
In addition to Cicorella and his son Antonello Magistà in the project is the Apulian agency Brainpull, which already has successes such as Pescaria under its belt. Evviva Maria - Trattoria Veloce, in just one year since its opening, has already won important recognition: it was in fact ranked seventeenth among the 50 Best Trattorias in Italy and received the Special Novelty Award of the Year 2024 according to 50 Top Italy. In July 2023, the trattoria was included in Gambero Rosso's Street Food Guide 2024 and the Espresso Group's Guide to Italian Restaurants. So many awards that denote how much this place is a sign to watch out for, ready to deliver great goodness.
A widespread restaurant
Modern, innovative and definitely pop. Beyond the amazing food, here at Evviva Maria Trattoria Veloce you can do something unusual for a restaurant: you can get orecchiette (or whatever delicacy you want to order) and you can eat it anywhere, perhaps while enjoying a good glass of wine from Spaccio Mortadella Jazz, the nearby “modern food store,” or while chatting with your neighbor or the butcher.
A nice gathering place, in Conversano's historic center where “the concept of ‘good neighbor’ has been transformed into community.”
The tasting
If one had to describe a meal at Evviva Maria Trattoria Veloce in one word, a few words would suffice: it is a sublimation of Apulian gastronomic culture. The tasty start is the fried bread balls, a typical appetizer that prepares the stomach to welcome all the regional goodness. Needless to say, these meatballs are addictive. One after another, one would never stop. Next comes a ricotta and spinach tart with flavors that conquer in one bite, as well as the not-to-be-missed onion, tuna and olive calzone.
Then a lunch at Evviva Maria's cannot miss the timballi, masterfully prepared by chef Cicorella with chicories and potatoes or with chicories and meatballs, but also the magical meatballs with sauce. Dulcis in fundo (you always have to keep a little space) the amazing orecchiette, the center of the dreams of every glutton who lunches or dines at Maria's. There are so many varieties (now available the ones made of grano arso), those with tomato puree, goat cheese and basil, those with white summer ragu, zucchini, its flowers and Parmigiano cream, and finally the orecchiette alla San Giuannidd with capers, cherry tomatoes, anchovies and oregano.
There is also no shortage of main courses such as chard, cherry tomato and mussel soup, midriff with potatoes, stuffed eggplant or meatloaf. A must-order, if you can't leave (and no harm done, you'll say), is Maria Cicorella's dessert: the Evvivamisù, an all-personal version of tiramisu with toasted almonds and coffee granita.
Tradition and creativity always go hand in hand, at Evviva Maria, to write a history made of authentic flavors and pages to be savored.
Contact
Evviva Maria Trattoria Veloce
Address: Corso Umberto I, 22, 70014 Conversano BA
Phone: 3290672235
E-mail: info@evvivamaria.it
