Forty years after the release in cinemas of the Marchese del Grillo, the mocking but also pathetic fresco of the papal nobility signed by Mario Monicelli and interpreted by an unforgettable Alberto Sordi, the restaurant in Via Ripetta that took its name from the film dedicates a special menu. For a month, Davide Solari and Lorenzo Renzi's venue, which has made international headlines after hosting the American First Lady Jill Biden and the Première Dame wife of French President Brigitte Macron for an afternoon aperitif on the occasion of the G20, will pay homage to Alberto Sordi-Marchese del Grillo with a special menu in which the iconic Rigatoni with pajata are the protagonists, a symbolic dish made memorable in the scene in the tavern with Onofrio and Olimpia.
"We Romans are all fond of the figure of Alberto Sordi and it is precisely in this place that is inspired by the timeless film whose fortieth anniversary that we want to remember him through traditional dishes that pay homage to the most memorable scenes of the film", explain Davide and Lorenzo which have increased the strong Roman roots of the restaurant with dishes of the Capitoline gastronomic tradition.
On this occasion, other dishes will also be offered in homage to the film: for the aperitif they opted for a crouton with pecorino dei Castelli (the place where the Marquis' estate was located in the film) and Bassiano ham while as a second course he opted for the seared Pajata skewer to conclude the meal with the single-portion Tartelletta which recalls the ricotta and sour cherry tart, typical of the Roman tradition and dating back to the eighteenth century.
Dishes that chef Daniele Roppo enhances, lightening them according to contemporary taste. For the recipe of Rigatoni with pajata, Daniele Roppo has chosen to propose the classic version of the dish, as did his grandmother Altea. Few ingredients, pepper, pajata and tomato sauce to create a sauce to dress the rigatone.
“It is an honor – he says – to celebrate “Albertone”, I grew up with his legend. I also named my cats Onofrio and Gasperino, in homage to his film, which I have always loved. As soon as the right occasion arises, among other things, I come up with one of the jokes. It is a pleasure to remember and share them”.
Roppo recounts: “My life has always been linked to this great actor. I remember the first time I met him, I was 7 years old. Sordi went to my own barbershop, under our house, from "Gioacchino" in via Trevis, and I was in line to get my hair cut. At one point he appeared, Alberto Sordi, and immediately started making fun of me, explaining that he was in a hurry, because they were waiting for him at Cinecittà to shoot. He even gave me five on the ear, to give me a kind of caress. Gioacchino told me: "Let's pass Albertone forward". Then, when he left, he thanked me
