Do you speak the language? What can you say?
I would say that after the past 15 years and employing hundreds of amazing Italian people, my Italian is…. OK. Put me in a pizza kitchen and I sound fluent, ask me what I think about the politics of the country and I’m lost. In Napoli they speak a local dialect too, so it makes things interesting!
What was on your agenda – for leisure?
When I get some free time, I love to get down to the water’s edge, order a Campari spritz from one of the little bars or ‘chalets’ with a bag of Taralli and watch the world go by, with Vesuvius across the bay. Then head into the Spanish Quarter for a plate of Spaghetti Vongole.
Did you discover any amazing new places on this trip?
My most recent discovery was an amazing little pastry shop just by the train station in Piazza Garibaldi called Attanasio, where they serve some of the best fresh Sfogliatelle in Napoli.
Who was the most interesting person you met on this trip?
One of my favourite people to meet up with in Napoli is the owner of the Caputo flour mill. His name is Anthony Caputo and he is the fourth-generation owner and his knowledge of pizza, the city of Napoli and his passion for the city is unmatched. He always takes me to some amazing old school trattoria for dinner.
What was the best thing you ate?
I had Genovese pasta at the aforementioned trattoria, which is very famous in Napoli. It’s essentially onions and slow cooked beef, cooked down for hours and served with ziti pasta, it’s sweet and savoury and you serve it with some great Parmesan. It is so addictive. I think it’s one of the most underrated pasta dishes in all of Italy.
