Officine La Rossa: The Perfect Synthesis Between Culinary Excellence & Architectural Beauty

Written by Sergio Ragone

After more than a year of closures caused by the fight against Covid, Italian catering restarts from Made in Italy and from the excellence of the territory. An example of how this strategy is successful is offered to us by the newly created platform "Officine La Rossa," a hub of Lucanian food and wine excellences, which recently opened in Rotonda, a village of extraordinary beauty and home of the excellent red aubergine DOP. 

The creator of the project, which makes use of the collaboration with the Lucanian Coldiretti, is Franco Bruno who presented the basic idea of the Officine as follows: "Our challenge is to welcome the many tourists who come to Rotonda every year in the Pollino Park," explained Bruno. He went on to say, "In this structure, they can taste the best of agri-food products made in Basilicata; an initiative that aims to promote the best synergies between sustainable tourism and food combined with the typical hospitality of the Lucanian communities." 

The platform focuses entirely on the food and wine of the area, hinging on the recognized quality of the products and the excellences that are emerging. All the proposed products are related to “I am Lucanian, an agri-food selection promoted by Coldiretti of Basilicata. This union also includes the choice of the strategic partner that "Officine La Rossa" made for the care of the design and set-up of the restaurant, Fimel. This new extraordinary story looks to the future with a deep respect for the past and with its roots firmly planted in the land and in the Lucanian traditions.

The architect, Mariangela Meliante, manager and creative director of the historic ho.re.ca company, tells the story of the work done by Fimel: "The process that led us to the result has been articulated and involved structural adaptation work to join two adjacent rooms and bring them back to their original shape. We have thus restored the old size to ensure an adequate surface to host and optimally promote the top of the agri-food production made in Basilicata, in synergy with Io sono Lucano promoted by Coldiretti Lucana. 

The room is accessed by two glass doors. A selection of wooden furnishings and iron structures adorn the space, harmoniously distributing a warm Lucanian atmosphere. An imperious glass-cut counter catches the eye from the entrance. The counter becomes a symbol par excellence of the opulence of Lucanian agro-food products, given the powerful offer of podolic, goat, pecorino and salami from black pigs and the many products of excellence. Lush aromatic plants of thyme, mallow, rosemary, oregano and basil as well as ferns and ivy decorate the convivial environment with naturalness and authenticity. The cascading lights in wine red rope interrupt the play of the contrasting beams with a classic-style checkered floor, creating a deliberate game of references to the workshop intended as a place for master craftsmen who with skilled hands are able to transform the raw material into a work of art, in this case culinary in an osmotic relationship with the patrons, without filters to testify the passion and authenticity of Basilicata."

In conclusion, “Officine La Rossa” has all the right ingredients to conquer the palates of travelers and fascinate their eyes with the beauty of the details. The result is a mix of all-Italian excellence and an  extraordinary future destination.