September. Traditionally the month where you've returned from your summer break having used up all your holiday time and where the months until the next bank holiday stretch out into infinity.
But lo - there is light on the horizon in the form of Harrods which is launching Stelle Di Stelle - a pop up collection of five of Italy's best restaurants. So there's no need to forlornly check Ryanair prices to Naples when the country's finest food is coming over here instead.
From September to January this pop up, run in association with Identità Golose, will showcase an edited version of the restaurants of five Italian chefs boasting 13 Michelin stars between them.
And those chefs are: the Cracco (two Michelin stars - Milan); Giorgio Pinchiorri and Annie Féolde’s Enoteca Pinchiorri (three Michelin stars, Florence); Gennaro Esposito’s Torre del Saracino (two Michelin stars, Amalfi coast); Enrico Crippa’s Piazza Duomo (three Michelin stars, 39th on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Alba); and Enrico and Roberto Cerea’s Da Vittorio (three Michelin stars Brusaporto, Bergamo).
Each chef will take over the restaurant on the lower ground floor, next to the wine rooms for one month each, running a special edit of their signature dishes. The four-course menu, which can be paired with Italian wines and beers will cost £110 for lunch and £160 for dinner (£130 and £180 respectively, with matching drinks), with one lunch and two dinner sittings each day.
Hot Dinners was given a little taster (sadly in writing, rather than the actual food) of what to expect.
Carlo Cracco's dishes will include;
- Marinated egg yolk with pappa al pomodoro and courgettes
- Veal fillet au gratin with capers and liquorish, Tropea red onion and green celery
- Burnt chocolate and parsley dessert
While the Cerea brothers dishes are going to feature:
- Soft polenta, robiola from Roccaverano, white truffle and Grana Padano sauce
- Gnocco filled with fondue with white truffle
To book a table, call 020 7893 8700 (booking line opens from Friday 8th August. Bookings can be made 9am-8pm Monday to Saturday and 11am-6pm on Sunday). More information is available online at www.harrods.com. Table requests can be emailed to stelle.di.stelle@harrods.com when the booking line is closed.
