London pizzeria imports real Italian mamma to teach chefs a lesson

A London restaurant owner has drafted in his mother all the way from Naples to make sure his chefs can cook her secret recipe for Italian ragù sauce properly.

Simone Falco, managing director of Neapolitan restaurant chain Rossopomodoro, today launched a new menu featuring the traditional Italian dish, made from his mother's secret recipe.

Since arriving in London from Naples last month, Bianca La Montagna, aged 66, has spent a week with each of the head chefs at Rossopomodoro's three restaurants, to make sure they know exactly how to recreate her coveted recipe.

The special dish, which is named 'A Tagliatella' on the menu, is not served with the traditional spaghetti but instead with tagliatelle made in Gragnano, a small town just outside of Naples.

Simone Falco said: "I was absolutely delighted when my mother finally allowed us to use the recipe in the restaurants. I've been enjoying this dish all my life and up until now, the family has kept the recipe a closely guarded secret."

"This is not your average Italian sauce; the flavours are particular to the Neapolitan region of Italy and the recipe is unique. It is essential that the chefs know how to make it properly and my mother is the only woman for the job."

"Spaghetti Bolognese is regularly billed as one of Britain's favourite dishes. We want Londoners to experience the real, authentic Italian ragù and not think of it as something that comes out of a jar."

Signora Falco said: "The recipe has been passed down through the women in my family for generations, I am very proud of the flavour and it has always been kept a secret, but Simone kept pestering me and finally convinced me to share it with the people of London. I agreed, on the condition that I was able to personally teach each of the chefs how to make it."

Rossopomodoro, which was originally founded in Naples and is now one of Italy's largest restaurant groups, uses only the finest ingredients from the Napoli region.

Words: Clare Riley

« Back to previous page