ORGOGLIO MARCHIGIÀ!
Here we go again and again and again, 3 is the perfect number ❣️
ROSSODISERA il marchigiano has been nominated as “Best Authentic Italian Restaurant in London 2019” for the third time in a row!
And now we need your help 🙏🏼
The Love Italian Life 2019 Awards have opened public voting to decide The Best Authentic Italian Restaurant in London 2019, closing on Friday 27th September this month.
Click here to vote for us!
The winning restaurant in London will be announced at The Love Italian Life 2019 Awards final in Dublin on November 19th.
The results are published online (loveitalianlife.com/) and via social media once they have been announced to the final shortlist of Italian restaurants, chefs, sponsors and media at the The Love Italian Life 2019 Awards ceremony in Dublin, Ireland on Tuesday 19th November. Further information, photography and video footage is available on loveitalianlife.com/
THANK YOU!
Rossodisera has been awarded Best Authentic Italian Restaurant in London (YEAH!)
Love Italian Life has announced that the official winner of the 2017 Best Authentic Italian restaurant in London is Rossodisera. We are winners of the top platinum award.
As an independent local authentic restaurant we really appreciate all the support and love from our wonderful customers who value our genuine, traditional recipes from a still little-known region as Le Marche. Our mission is to offer the excellence of exquisite dishes, a warm welcome, and an unforgettable tasting experience everyday.
The process began with a panel of independent Italian experts including renowned Italian chefs, critics, award winning writers and exhibition judges. The panel then shortlisted an exclusive selection of authentic Italian restaurants in London based on key criteria such as Food/Wine Expertise, Quality of Products, Staff, Mastery of Flavour and Cooking Techniques. Finally with an online survey the British public voted on which authentic Italian restaurant from the list should come top which resulted in Rossodisera.
Upon winning the platinum award, our restaurant partner Roberto Traini Giulianini said ‘We are proud and honoured to be voted the best authentic Italian restaurant in London and this overwhelming support means a lot to us. It’s the best reward for all the passionate work we’ve been doing here at Rossodisera over the last ten years”.
Love Italian Life Co Founder Neil Cameron said, “With a population of 8.7 million people and hundreds of so called Italian restaurants to choose from – it is brilliant for Londoners to finally make their decision on a top credible location people can trust. Rossodisera seems to have struck the perfect balance of offering a superb freshness of quality Italian ingredients from Le Marche region combined with an exceptional dining experience to match”.
Thank you!
From Partnership Magazine – Spring issue 2016 – Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the UK
By Amy Lee
The restaurant featuring in this edition takes us on a journey of discovery, from Covent Garden to Italy’s little-known region of Le Marche, located on the eastern side of central Italy stretching between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea. Rossodisera is tucked away in a cosy corner of London’s theatrical quarter, perfectly situated for a pre-show meal. Opened in 2007 with the intention to promote the land and products of Le Marche, Rossodisera is able to boast the title of the only fully Marche restaurant in all of the UK. The premises are small and intimate, and the rustic, warm terracotta colours of the interior are irresistible on a chilly January evening. The ground floor serves as a delicatessen and cafe in the daytime, with a small bar and preparation area for pastries. Upon arrival we are led downstairs to the main dining room, complete with its very own wine cellar through a stone archway at the back. Under the ground, surrounded by the bare brickwork and modest decoration, the hustle and bustle of London is left behind for a rural, provincial setting. Owner Igor Iacopini joins us at the table, and tells us the restaurant is decorated using the actual stone, beams and wooden benches from his father’s country house. The room is made even more distinctive and personal by the artwork for sale displayed on the walls, painted by Igor’s best friend from home. The immediate feeling is of authenticity and comfort, the natural family atmosphere reflected in the way the staff interact with one another and the customers. It’s clear that tonight is all about Le Marche, a region that is not often spoken about or considered a part of Italy’s cultural arsenal. Everything included on Rossodisera’s menu is exclusively ‘marchigiano’, made with ingredients sourced from small companies based within the region itself and according to original Marche recipes. Every member of staff at Rossodisera is from Le Marche; they are fiercely proud to be local and strive to keep this exclusivity. Head chef since 2014, Leonardo Gualtieri, naturally a ‘marchigiano’ himself, learnt the basics from his grandmother before spending many years refining his technique working in various professional environments. This dedication to the land and regional history gives Rossodisera a truly individual character.
The meal begins with a classic antipasto platter with a selection of no less than 3 cheeses and 6 cured meats. These are served with homemade focaccia, along with honey and jam – just enough to balance the flavour of the cheese but not overwhelm it. My favourite ‘salumi’ are one made with liver and the ‘lonzino’ in the Marche dialect, more often known as ‘capocollo’. We then sample the ‘galantina di pollo’, a sliced cold cut of chicken, turkey, vegetables, olives and herbs and the ‘olive all’ascolana e cremini fritti’ (fried stuffed olives and custard cubes), handmade by the staff and served with vegetables in vinegar. The cremini were Igor’s favourite when he was young, and come pretty high up on my list, too; it seems almost criminal to begin a meal with something so sweet and delicious! The antipasto is accompanied by a craft beer ‘Birra Cereale’, brewed by Igor’s cousin’s own microbrewery ‘Laboratorio della Birra’. Igor tells us that Italians approach a meal with an ‘eating plan’, from the salty antipasto the primo follows naturally. Not wanting to upset the natural flow of things, we select a classic pasta dish, ‘fettuccine con ragù di coniglio’ (fettuccine with rabbit ragù). My dining partner’s reaction to this dish tells it all; he doesn’t come up for air until the plate is clean. The rabbit is so tender and delicate, no hint of toughness that is often associated with game. The faultless execution of this simple combination proves that there is no need to overcomplicate food when products are of such high quality. For this course we move from beer on to wine; Igor advises a wonderfully balanced Rosso Conero ‘Dorico’ from Cantina Moroder. Customers will be impressed by Rossodisera’s extensive wine list, perhaps even surprised by the countless offerings of this small territory. Igor and his staff have an exceptional passion for their region, and it is their sincere aim to make Le Marche known in the best way possible. In order to taste the best of Marche cuisine, sharing two secondi seems inevitable…
The first, ‘agnello al forno con carciofi’ (roast lamb with artichokes) is cooked to perfection; the meat falls off the bone and is naturally so full of flavour that it needs no sauce or relish. Next up is ‘coscia d’oca con schiacciata di patate e senape’ (goose thigh with mashed potatoes and mustard). The earthy, natural flavours of the artichokes and potatoes combine perfectly with the tender meat in these typical dishes. It seems impossible that the culinary traditions of this region are almost completely over-looked by many who claim to know Italian cuisine. A testimony to the quality of the food at Rossodisera is the Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana award – a demonstration for British customers of the restaurant’s top-quality status and a proof of genuineness. On top of this, Rossodisera has also been awarded the Slow Food award from Britain and the Le Marche local authorities. As the meal draws to a close, there is really no need for a dessert; swapping stories over a coffee would be enough to finish off an evening of exquisite food and great company. Despite being sufficiently full from the previous courses and wine, we give in and try a selection of pastries: ‘biscotti secchi al sale’ (crunchy biscuits with salt), ‘crostata con pere e noci’ (pear and hazelnut tart) and ‘ciambellone’, a marbled sponge ring, all handmade ‘in casa’. These small samples alone are enough to solidify my resolve to return at a later date, and after knocking back an Amaro Sibilla we bid the wonderful staff ‘buonanotte’.
The flawless service and warm, inviting air of Rossodisera make it clear to see why regular customers are happy to keep coming back, and the reasons for the positive feedback from international clients, not just British and Italian. Restaurant director Igor generously gives up his evening to accommodate us, taking part in the meal, talking us through each dish. With plans to open a second restaurant in London, Igor intends to develop the distribution of Marche products, an activity which he began 3 years ago. It is important that people know Italy is much more than pizza, pasta and the common tourist destinations. At the moment Le Marche is a region basically untouched by tourism, but hopefully, with the work of people like Igor, it will become more widely known for its wealth of outstanding offerings. The staff at Rossodisera are the most dedicated of ambassadors for their region, who do everything they can to make the experience genuine. Here there is a real sense of home, and pride for one’s native land and origins, communicated through the excellence of the food and the snug, satisfying atmosphere.
Da Fermo a Londra per conquistare gli Inglesi grazie ai sapori Marchigiani. E’ la storia di tre giovani del fermano che hanno inventato “Rossodisera”, un ristorante che propone cucina rigorosamente marchigiana nel centro di Londra. Un grande successo. A raccontare una storia di coraggio e di capacità imprenditoriale è uno dei soci, Igor Iacopini, di Fermo, che ha avviato questa avventura insieme a Samuele Ciaralli, anche lui di Fermo. Poi si è aggiunto dal punto di vista operativo Roberto Traini Giulianini, di Grottazzolina.
“Siamo tutti allegri 40enni con un profilo di studi accademico, economia bancaria a Macerata, io e Samuele, ingegneria in Ancona Roberto – racconta Igor -. Personalmente, dopo aver meditato se proseguire o no con un master, ho avuto un’esperienza di circa quattro anni come responsabile in un’azienda del Fermano. Cercavo la possibilità di uscire dall’ambito di Fermo e dintorni, che pure amavo e amo ancora, ma che mi faceva sentire sostanzialmente bloccato in una realtà dov’era difficile emergere”. Igor si è appassionato alla cucina, ai buoni vini, al territorio e alle tradizioni. “Mi sono reso conto della qualità dei prodotti marchigiani a fronte di un prezzo contenuto – spiega -. Ho cercato di condividere la mia idea con le persone di cui mi fidavo di più e dopo qualche tempo siamo partiti. Non avevamo mai vissuto a Londra, abbiamo superato un certo numero di vicissitudini, ma nel Marzo 2007 siamo infine riusciti ad aprire il Rossodisera autofinanziandoci completamente”. Rossodisera è un ristorante di cucina tipica marchigiana, un ambiente domestico tipico al numero 5 di Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, 5 minuti a piedi da Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square e Soho.
“Si trattava di un locale in parziale dissesto – racconta Igor – che abbiamo dovuto completamente ristrutturare con le nostre mani e a nostre spese in 6 mesi e mezzo, sotto la regia sapiente di Roberto. Abbiamo anche utilizzato tutti materiali di scarto provenienti da un rudere di Ponzano di Fermo del 1860 circa, che mio padre aveva appena ricevuto in eredità. E’ come stare proprio sulle colline del Piceno. Il 90% dello staff è originario delle Marche e proprio in questi giorni stiamo ospitando sei stagisti del programma Leonardo, provenienti dall’Istituto Alberghiero di Loreto. Importiamo vino, birra, salumi, formaggi, tartufi, olio, conserve e altro direttamente da piccoli produttori del territorio. Progressivamente siamo riusciti a proporre tutte preparazioni fatte in casa nel menù, dalla pasta, alle olive all’ ascolana, ai dolci tipici fatti giorno per giorno”. Un grande risultato. Sui siti le recensioni sono ottime e si parla sempre di un alto livello di accoglienza, di un servizio molto attento, seppur informale e alla mano.
Ma come si vive questa esperienza lontano da casa? “Con grande entusiasmo ogni giorno – dice Igor -. Sono sempre molto motivato, cosa che non mi capitava professionalmente quando ero in Italia. Mi mancano la famiglia e le persone con le quali ho un legame più stretto. Economicamente ci sono stati momenti molto duri, ma a partire da metà 2009 tutto è andato per il meglio”.
Sogni mai di tornare a vivere in Italia? “Si, credo che tornerò in Italia, ma non prima di qualche anno ancora. Sinceramente non mi ci vedo ad invecchiare in una città come Londra. Infatti, a parte i miei obbiettivi professionali, la maggior parte delle cose che contano sono nelle Marche, dove sento di mantenere tutte le mie radici”.
——- EN version ——-
From Fermo to London: winning English hearts with the flavours of Le Marche
This is the story of three young men from the Fermo area who dreamed up “Rossodisera,” a restaurant bringing the honest, home-style cooking of Le Marche — that sun-warmed region on Italy’s Adriatic coast, tucked between the Apennines and the sea — into the very heart of London. And what a success it has become. Sharing this tale of courage and entrepreneurial spirit is one of the partners, Igor Iacopini, from Fermo, who set out on the adventure together with Samuele Ciaralli, also a Fermo man. Roberto Traini Giulianini, from Grottazzolina, came on board a little later to look after the day-to-day running.
“We’re three cheerful forty-somethings, all with academic backgrounds — banking economics at Macerata for Samuele and me, engineering at Ancona for Roberto,” Igor smiles. “For my part, after mulling over whether to go on to a master’s, I spent about four years as a manager in a company back home in the Fermo area. But I was searching for a way to spread my wings beyond Fermo and its surroundings — a place I loved then and love still, yet where I felt somehow stuck, in a world where it was hard to truly stand out.” Along the way, Igor fell in love with good food, fine wines, and the land and traditions of his home. “I came to realise just how wonderful the products of Le Marche are — and at such a gentle price,” he explains. “I shared the idea with the people I trusted most, and before long, we were on our way. We’d never lived in London, and we weathered our fair share of ups and downs, but in March 2007 we finally threw open the doors of Rossodisera, financed entirely out of our own pockets.” Rossodisera serves the traditional cooking of Le Marche in a warm, homely setting at 5 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden — just a five-minute stroll from Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square and Soho.
“It was a place half in ruins,” Igor recalls fondly, “one we had to rebuild completely with our own hands, and at our own expense, over six and a half months, under Roberto’s skilful eye. We even used reclaimed timber and materials from an old farmhouse in Ponzano di Fermo, dating to around 1860, which my father had just inherited. Step inside and it feels as though you’re right there in the hills of the Piceno. Ninety per cent of our team hails from Le Marche, and just now we’re delighted to be hosting six young interns from the Leonardo programme, from the Hospitality Institute of Loreto. We bring in wine, beer, cured meats, cheeses, truffles, oil, preserves and so much more, straight from the small producers of our region. And bit by bit, we’ve come to make everything on the menu ourselves — from the pasta to the olive all’ascolana to the traditional sweets, prepared fresh each and every day.” A remarkable achievement. Online, the reviews glow, praising time and again the warmth of the welcome and the attentive, wonderfully unpretentious service.
So what is it like, living this adventure so far from home? “Every single day, with real joy,” says Igor. “I feel so motivated now — something that simply never happened to me, professionally, back in Italy. Of course, I miss my family and the people dearest to me. There were some very lean times financially, but from the middle of 2009, everything began to fall into place.”
And do you ever dream of coming home to Italy? “Yes — I believe I’ll return one day, though not for a few years yet. Honestly, I can’t quite picture myself growing old in a city like London. The truth is that, beyond my work and my ambitions, nearly all the things that matter most to me are in Le Marche — the place where I feel all my roots still hold.”