Stelle di Stelle: Carlo Cracco
From September 1st, world-famous department store Harrods welcomes Carlo Cracco’s two Michelin starred Ristorante Cracco, one of Italy’s best restaurants, for a one-month residency at pop up concept Stelle di Stelle.
Carlo Cracco is a leader of the new generation of progressive Italian cuisine. He has garnered worldwide attention at his restaurant in Milan for creative takes on classic Italian foods: perhaps pasta made of cuttlefish; or pureed salad encrusted in caramelized sugar. Cracco’s dishes are always inspiring, honoring traditional Milanese cooking, whilst exploring new flavours and textures.
Born in Vicenza in 1965, Carlo Cracco began his career at Gualtiero Marchesi, in Milan, the first Italian restaurant to be awarded three Michelin stars. After various internships with Alain Ducasse in
In 2001, Cracco accepted an invitation from the Stoppani family, owners of Milan’s famous gourmet shop Peck to open Cracco-Peck Restaurant. In 2007 Cracco took over the whole restaurant and re-launched as Ristorante Cracco.
The restaurant has been listed in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants more than once. In August 2012 Cracco became consultant for the Trussardi family at the Trussardi alla Scala in Milan. In September 2013, Cracco consulted for the opening of the restaurant at the Hotel Palazzo Parigi in Milan. In Spring 2014 he opened a new gastronomic concept, restaurant and cocktail bar, “Carlo e Camilla in Segheria” in Milan.
Cracco starred as a judge on all three series of Masterchef Italia and is also host of the Italian version of Hell’s Kitchen.
Carlo Cracco has made his reputation by mixing things up (perhaps burnt cream with olive oil) - but it’s not just playing with contrasts or assembling different ingredients. It’s a philosophy of synthesis: creating a brand new taste. He has the courage to continually reinvent himself and his cooking, without succumbing to the temptation to tune himself into fashion or on the easiness of a repetitive style.
He has become especially known for his fascination with the humble egg - it has almost become a symbol of his kitchen - a simple food, which Cracco transforms into something very special. In addition to his famous ‘marinated egg yolk’, which will be on the menu at Harrods, there are, for example, pastas made with only egg yolks.
Carlo’s five-course menu at Stelle di Stelle will feature:
- Fresh tomato pulp, mozzarella and basil seeds
- Beer Tartar with Marinated egg yolk, white truffle, pomegranate
- Green tomato risotto with langoustine, toasted pine nuts
- Veal fillet Rossini Style with foie gras, black truffle, spinach and Marsala sauce
- Burnt chocolate and parsley dessert
The menu is priced at £110 for lunch and £160 for dinner (£130 and £180 respectively, with matching drinks), with one lunch and two dinner sittings each day. To book a table, call 020 7893 8700 (Bookings can be made 9am-8pm Monday to Saturday and 11am-6pm on Sunday.)
From September 2014 to January 2015, Harrods welcomes five of Italy’s best restaurants to take up residency in the Knightsbridge store for ‘Stelle di Stelle’. With 13 Michelin stars between them, the acclaimed line-up also includes Giorgio Pinchiorri and Annie Féolde’s Enoteca Pinchiorri; Gennaro Esposito’s Torre del Saracino; Enrico Crippa’s Piazza Duomo; and Enrico and Roberto Cerea’s Da Vittorio.
Stelle di Stelle, is presented in association with Identità Golose, a culinary organisation with a mission to promote the best of modern Italian cuisine and showcase regional culinary excellence worldwide. There have been editions in London and New York, and this September, they will be in Chicago.
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