In Naples it is said that his favourite dish was spaghetti with garlic, oil and chilli pepper revisited with a sprinkling of fried breadcrumbs, so much so that this simple and quick recipe is still called Maradona-style pasta. In Buenos Aires, his favorite restaurant was “La Brigada”, which is still a pilgrimage destination for fans from all over the world. We are obviously talking about Diego Armando Maradona, a champion on the pitch and… at the table. Some time ago, after his death, the official restaurant dedicated to the number 10 of Napoli and the Biancoceleste national team opened in the Argentine capital: it is called “Maradona (10)” and is owned by the Chinese group based in London Hutong Tang, which has regularly bought the image rights and specializes in contemporary cuisine, boasting several Michelin-starred restaurants in its stable.
Hamburgers and desserts: the champion's menu
Maradona's restaurant may not be one of these, but it has an enormous evocative value and a very respectable menu, entirely inspired by the legendary parable of the Pibe de Oro. You can therefore taste, for example, "Las mollejas del 86", that is, the offal of beef, lamb or pork, with a clear reference to the World Cup won in 1986; or even theMaradona Burgers, stuffed with 120 grams of blended meat, mixed tapas and roast beef with potato bread, as well as chipotle aioli, avocado, red onion and raclette cheese, all served with French fries. Until of course the main course, the Milanese of the Whole, that is, the famous breaded chicken cutlet that Diego's mother, Dona Tota, used to make. The Milanese cutlet is also offered in a version dedicated to the "Profe" Signorini, Maradona's historic personal athletic trainer. No dramatic turns of events when it comes to wines, drinks and spirits: the selection is wide and high-quality, but traditional. You can indulge yourself with desserts, however, with a chocolate cake filled with dulce de leche called “The ball is not missing” (“The ball doesn’t get dirty”, a historic phrase uttered by El Diez in his farewell match at the Bombonera), and with “La batalla del Bernabeu”, which in homage to the 1980 mega-brawl during the Real Madrid-Athletic Bilbao match offers 70% chocolate cream, orange peel, red fruits, mint, moisson cream, dark chocolate and pure honey shortcrust pastry, candied oranges and a chocolate bar.
In Naples the ice cream “De Brownie” but without forgetting Diego
The restaurant “Maradona (10)” is open from Tuesday to Sunday, for lunch and dinner, and also does take away. It is located on Avenida Juramento, in the chic neighborhood of Belgrano, and obviously offers a wide selection of memorabilia of the champion: photos, shirts, balls, scarves and flags. One of the many shrines dedicated to the unforgettable Diego, as can be found in the rest of the world. still today in Naples itself, the Italian city that adopted him and probably loved him like no other. Today, Neapolitan creativity has churned out the “Lukaku Cake” and the “Kevin De Brownie” flavored ice cream in homage to the champions of the moment, but as the slogan goes “those who love don’t forget”.
