Haute cuisine for everyone: 20 restaurants, 10 of which are starred, promote the excellence of the Lombardy region, with a gourmet proposal that aims to bring even the less traditional clientele closer to excellent cuisine. The "INGRUPPO" initiative, successfully launched eight years ago, envisages that twenty restaurants, of which 8 Michelin-starred and 2 three-starred, will offer a special format, with dedicated menus and proposals, from 14 January to 30 April 2020, every day , both at lunch and dinner with a 4-course menu (with water, coffee and wine, in some cases also with entrèe and pre-dessert) at the price of 60 euros per person. The goal is to offer young and old, curious and passionate, often intimidated by high prices, the tasting of a complete menu for lunch or dinner that enhances the specialties of the area. All at a pre-established “Prête a manger” price.
The 2020 edition was born in the wake of the 65th Michelin Italy Guide which crowned Lombardy as the most starred region in Italy with 62 award-winning restaurants. Among the new entries: Impronte, from Bergamo, which with the young chef Cristian Fagone, born in 1988, has conquered its first star and from this year becomes part of INGRUPPO. With him also Il Cantinone, from Madesimo (SO), led by Stefano Masanti and his sous chef Stefano Ciabarri, one of the few restaurants at altitude (1.550) to have won a star.
And then there are Da Vittorio and Enrico Bartolini's Mudec (the only two set menus at 120 euros): INGRUPPO's flagships which can boast 2 of the 3 three-starred chefs in Lombardy (11 in Italy). And again Sadler, Casual, Frosio, Il Saraceno, Loro and Osteria della Brughiera, all with a Michelin star. The group is completed by Collina, La Caprese, Lio Pellegrini, Al Vigneto, Antica Osteria dei Camelì, Posta, Roof Garden Restaurant, Tenuta Casa Virginia, Pomiroeu and Cucina Cereda. In total, 16 restaurants in the province of Bergamo, 2 restaurants in Milan, one in Monza – Brianza and, starting this year, one in the province of Sondrio, thus promoting maximum valorisation of the Lombardy region and its excellent food and wine.
Started in 2013, INGRUPPO has managed to involve an increasingly varied and young clientele. In fact, it is precisely the millennials who lead the latest trends in catering, which is confirmed by the fact that social networks register a peak in contacts, posts and shares just after the announcement of the event.
From 2013 to today, the event has experienced an ascending parable of consensus in terms of numbers and popularity: the first edition had 15 restaurants, all concentrated in Bergamo and its province, and recorded the sale of about 10 menus; this year it has gone to 20 venues, distributed in 4 provinces and it is estimated that 20 menus will be served.
Lio Pellegrini, owner of the restaurant that bears his name in Bergamo and promoter of the initiative, affirms with satisfaction “The most satisfying results of the entire project lie precisely in having introduced many young people attracted to fine dining for the first time, attracted by the smart price and in concretely enhancing an immense food and wine and entrepreneurial heritage, which increasingly rhymes with innovation and original experimentation as well as with tradition".
The initiative will continue until 30 April every day, both at lunch and dinner, except for Valentine's Day and Easter. Reservations can be made by telephone or e-mail, starting from 7 January, by contacting the chosen restaurant directly, specifying in advance the request for the "INGROUP" menu. All the info is available on www.ingruppo.bg.it, also in English.
