Happy Ending - Chef Francesco Sodano, Il Faro di Capo D'Orso, Maiori (Sa)

Il Faro di Capo D'orso.  Some say it is one of the most romantic places on the Amalfi Coast.    And like most romances, it has a happy ending.  That happy ending for this particular story arrived after lunch as Chef Francesco Sodano showed up at my table with his  Latte e Cereali - milk and cereal dessert.

Chef Francesco Sodano

At first glance, the chef's dessert may seem like a simple typical breakfast.  It's far from simple.  Beginning with a fantasticaaa zuppa di latte di capra - goat milk from one of his favorite shepherds/producers, Domenico Papa, who brings the chef fresh goat milk daily from Potenza, a town located nearly 5 hours away.  This zuppa is served foamy.

I was really happy to see a brownie - a taste of home.  On top of the brownie - ice cream made with goat's milk and vanilla Tahiti.
As the chef expalined his dessert to me, he picked up a ceramic carton of milk and lightly poured a little more milk to my bowl.  (If you look closely at the carton you can see that it was custom designed and made for them - note the restaurant's name on the side.)  Finishing touch?  A few spoonfuls of homemade granola.

But this story isn't over.  Anyone who has been to Il Faro di Capo D'Orso this season, or has followed the chef knows what comes next.  His Shave the Chef.  I had the chance a few weeks earlier to be in the kitchen as the chef, alongside Maitre Sommelier Bonny Ferrara, shared with me the scoop on the petit fours - so I felt well prepared.




A chocolate disc with a pic of Chef Sodano stamped on it.  The diner's mission, so to speak, is to take the shaving cream, er - foamy mint,  and delicately spread it with the barber's brush.  Then just pop it in your mouth.  Mission accomplished.

Thank you for my happy ending!

Bonny Ferrara and Sodano