Casadonna Reale by Niko Romito - An intellectual journey and a minimalist masterpiece
Casadonna Reale is Niko Romito's minimalist hideout amongst the hills of Abbruzzo. It is well hidden and distanced from all major cities, roads and airports so it really is a destination worth looking up and worth driving at least two hours for (once you landed). Niko and team prides themselves for simple ingredients and a vegetable focused menu, but look underneath and you will find layers and layers of taste, deconstruction, transformation. Years and years of learning and creation and creativity have gone into every single dish. Think broccoli leaf brushed with an almost miso like rich broccoli paste or a fermented cauliflower glazed with its own juices and pureed underneath to achieve a cauliflower bonbon almost. It says a lot about Reale that our company thought that we had more intellectual discussions about the food here than any other two or three star establishment. Niko Romito is a wizard. Or take my other favourite- a salad leaf infused with gin with some sour cream fo
