INTRODUCING ALDO, CUCINA RUSTICA'S HEAD CHEF

Our team at Cucina Rustica are dedicated to ensuring that you enjoy your meal every time you choose to dine with us, so our team in the kitchen work extremely hard to sample new menus and bring brand new flavours to the restaurant, which will enable you to experience the unique flavours and textures of each individual dish.We spoke with our Head Chef Aldo Sapornas, to find out exactly what inspires his delicious cooking day in day out.

Hi Aldo, you’ve been with Cucina Rustica for 3 years now. Tell us a little more about your history as a chef.

I’ve always enjoyed cooking, it’s in my blood. My mother is a fantastic cook and I spent so much time with her in the kitchen growing up. I first realised I had a real flare for finding the delicious flavours when I turned 16, all I wanted to do was experiment with a range of ingredients.After a while, I decided to apply for college and was delighted to be offered a place at Garilbaldi college in Verona, where I studied as a Chef for 4 years.

What are the 3 key ingredients that you regularly use when cooking?

Rosemary, Oregano and Sage are added into almost every dish I create. Rosemary in particular, is such a key herb for Italian cooking and something my mother has always encouraged me to use. It’s also very important to add a lot of love into your cooking…tasty dishes take time, and you can’t be heavy handed when it comes to perfecting those finishing touches!

What do you enjoy about working at Cucina Rustica?

I enjoy the flexibility I am given to experiment with ingredients and find the perfect flavours which complement each other. I’m also surrounded by a great team who are extremely supportive and honest with their feedback when sampling new menus. Finally, the customers are wonderful, it’s always rewarding when a customer personally thanks you for the meal they’ve just eaten and I always take their opinions on board.

Who is the inspiration for your cooking?

The famous Carlo Cracco of course – he really is a true inspiration to me. I’ve never met him before, but I went to a conference of his a few years ago in Milan, where he gave a brilliant talk about his life and what inspires him. I love the creativity he brings to his dishes and the unique takes he has on traditional Italian foods.

And finally, what is your favourite traditional Italian dish?

It’s difficult to say, as there are so many to choose from, but I would probably be swayed by a traditional southern Italian dish; Salmon fillet, honey and lime juice with a side of roasted cauliflower. Absolutely delicious!If you've never tried Aldo's cooking, we recommend you do. Come and pay us a visit if you fancy treating yourself to something delicious.