July 2009 Chef of the Month…

chefofthemonth
Massimo Montone
Head Chef
Fresco's
Q & A with Scott Hill
Massimo Montone (Fresco's Resturant) sits down with Scott Hill
Fresco’s is a landmark in Hamilton located down the narrow walkway of Chancery Lane. An “Italian kitchen” is a new addition and direction for Fresco’s. Please elaborate on the changes that our readers will experience?
For the key location where Fresco’s is, we are sure that excellent Italian fare is needed; new and modern with a contemporary approach to Italian food, while looking back at the traditional family. Healthy cooking is what the current market will enjoy eating.
Recently, Fresco’s daily soufflé was awarded the “Best Decadent Dessert” by the Bermudian Magazine. Plus, “Most Attentive Staff” has been awarded to Fresco’s. What is it that stands Fresco’s above the rest?
The awards speak for themselves! The soufflé is definitely an institution and to make it right it is not easy. Fresco’s, for more than 10 years in a row, hasn’t failed once; we pride ourselves of it. Regulars come in to Fresco’s just to experience the pleasure of having Fresco’s soufflé. Also, staff is what makes or breaks any business; recruitment and training is essential, and keeping the staff motivated is hard but very important. And above all is Passion!
Introducing Massimo Montone to the front of the house at Fresco’s has already spiced things up. A totally new menu has been created to reflect a Northern Italian style of cooking. Tell us a little about your background and what you plan to bring with you to the Bermudian diners?
Born in a small village in Italy, with a lots of passion for food in general, I was introduced to the hospitality world at a very young age, and I developed a true passion for it. I worked in the most exciting restaurants and hotels in Italy and the world. Over the years I have mastered my skills and used all my knowledge to make every guest who comes to my dining room to have the best experience possible, because dining out must be an experience. Whoever comes to my dining room is a guest to my house.
Freshness is the key ingredient at Fresco’s right down to the daily hand made pasta. Please provide our readers with your special recipe on how you make gnocchi and also one of your favorite sauces?

Absolutely!!! Freshness is what Italian food is about! To make pasta fresh everyday is not simple, but not impossible, and at Fresco’s we delight ourselves in being capable of it. We are already setting our name for fresh gnocchi and people love it. Well here you go: per 1 kg of potatoes cooked and mashed, add 100 gm of flour, 2 eggs and salt to taste. My favorite sauce has to be Bolognese, Ragù alla Bolognesa, from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. It is good with any kind of pasta. Carrots, stalks celery, onion, garlic cloves, butter, ground beef and pork, strong beef, broth, red wine, canned plum tomatoes, salt & pepper. Just make sure the vegetables are minced. Heat the olive oil in a large pot, and then add the vegetables. Lower the heat until they begin to brown. Add the meats and brown well. Keep stirring to break up the meat as small as possible. Over high heat, add the wine and allow boiling for a few minutes to evaporate. All will need to go in the oven for 20 minutes, and then when very brown add the meat in the tomato sauce already boiling with some garlic, and let boil on low at least for 2 hours.

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