Botox, Beer, and Bucket Lists- Francesco Capece, La Locanda dei Feudi, San Cipriano Picentino (Sa)

 

It has been at least a couple of years since I added La Locanda dei Feudi, Francesco Capece’s pizzeria, to my bucket list of places to visit/pizzas to try.  There, however has always been one thing that made me press ‘pause’.   The distance.  Google maps told me time and time again that the distance from my home to my pilgrimage destination was 100 km – about 62 miles.  About an hour or so of driving. 

The past few months, however, I was encouraged by close trusted friends to go for it.  His toppings are great…I was told.  His pasta dough is close to perfect…another shared. So last weekend, I decided to test it out for myself -  to see what La Locand dei Feudi would reveal to me on an early Saturday evening in June.

The pizzeria opens at 7:30 pm.  I arrived at 7.  Oops!  That was ok, a smiling Capece assured me…that way he could spend a few minutes to chat before his busy Saturday evening began.

The past year has not been easy for pizzerias in Campania like Capece’s.  La Locanda is only open during the evenings and did not cater to delivery or take away during the red zone periods.  It was painful for the 30 year old pizzamaker and his team to remain closed for a long period of time.  Capece shared with me that during the closure he renovated his kitchen, ordered new mise en place and worked on his menu. That way he would be ready when the time came.

Ready for evenings like that particular Saturday.  As I sat down at my table, he suggested that I take a look at the menu. 

Francesco, I have been studying your menu for 2 days.  I would like to order your Botox.  Botox and a beer.

Bene!  was his response.

A few minutes later, my beer – chosen by Capece – arrived.  Hilde, Extraomnes Brewery.

A few minutes later, a little surprise. Since I hadn’t ordered one of the many tempting starters, Capece wanted me to try a slice of his Neapolitan Genovese.  This pizza is first fried then placed in a wood burning oven with stewed Montoro copper onions, celery and carrots.  After it comes out of the oven Capece places Bavarian Scottana beef and annurca apples, Parmigiana Reggiano cheese, extra virgin olive oil DOP Colline Salernitane (Giffoni), and basil. 

A pleasant surprise, I must admit.

Surprise #2-

An arancino made with saffron risotto creamy Normandy butter, 36-month aged  Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Mangalica prosciutto cotto, jersey fiordilatte, ground black pepper, served on a bed of cream 100 giorni peas, and San Marzano tomatoes.

This was also pleasant.  But I must admit, I was curious about my Botox.  The pizzeria was filling up, and I was getting a little nervous about the ride home and whether or not I would make the 11 pm curfew.

Then I remembered that part of the pizza experience is the pizzeria experience.  Chatting with friends/family…right next to La Locanda, there is even space with a small playground and piazza for young children.  Fantasticaaa, because after being restricted for months and months, a little breath of fresh air and liberty is more than welcome.

Back to my Botox…

Capece brought it to my table himself and quickly explained the ingredients before racing back to the kitchen….

A fondue made with  Caciocavallo cheese aged in Castelcivita caves, a Jersey cow fiordilatte, buffalo milk blue chees, Cilento white fig jam, 24-month Parmigiano Reggiano chips, Leccino (Controne) monocultivar extra virgin olive oil, and basil.

 I had my Botox, and I enjoyed every last bite.  Of course I was curious about the name.  Capece explained.

First of all because, I made fun of the name of a friend of mine "Bodo" by dedicating the pizza to him. But then I decided that I had to give it a meaning. I wanted to make a 4 cheese pizza greedy and satisfying.  After all, you feel fulfilled after eating it - just like a woman who does Botox and is satisfied with the results.

I thought about that for a bit as I checked La Locanda dei Feudi off on my bucket list.  Am I satisfied?  Fulfilled?

Experts say Botox treatments can last 3 to 4 months…

I’m not sure if I can wait that long before my next fix- plus there is an entire menu to try.  100 km is not really that far after all…

In the meantime, I'll enjoy my Botox fix and my Saturday evening in pizzeria - one of the best that I've had in a long time.