Nicolas Balestra (ex-Professore and Quindici) sure doesn’t mess around when he makes a sandwich! Wrapping them up in “Save the planet” newspaper, he fills two layers of divine rye-wheat bread with vegetable antipasto, charcuterie aged from three weeks to six months, and plenty of cheese – there are 30 varieties to choose from in his Fort Knox of an épicerie-cum-tasting bar. However, the day we went for lunch, there was barely a sandwich in sight! Instead, a plate composed of beetroot and bulgur salad, slow-roasted eggplant, sautéed zucchini seasoned with lemon, celery and olives, smoked pork belly from Trieste, mortadella, bresaola from Sicilian black cows, Tuscan ham, rustic wild boar saucisson from Abruzzo. Before ending the meal with a saffron sheep’s milk cheese or dried pears with buffalo milk camembert! Good to know: Nicolas also teases you with freshly made pasta: homemade orecchiette, linguine with palourde clams… depending on his mood that day. // G.D.
FEELING THIRSTY? In the glasses: all Italian, from €4.50 to €6 by the glass (a red from La Matota or the selection of the day), Barbera Tonisa (€29 a bottle) or an orange wine from Progetto Calcarius in Puglia (€33)…
PRICE: Sandwiches €8.50, set menus €8.50 and €13.50 (lunch), pasta €16-24, tasting platters €18.
