If you ask me, 'Karen, how was your lunch with Chef Nino Di Costanzo/Dani'Maison Retsuarant ? What was your favorite dish?' I'd pause a bit, because it is a question that has an answer, or answers, that may or may not make sense to you. Because my answer takes into account an evolution, if you will, of the dishes/moments/ experiences that I have shared with the chef since I met him nearly 7 years ago.
My answer takes into account the excitement of arriving at the gate, the garden, the breeze on those cool afternoons, the heat on those hot Ischitano summer days.
It takes into account the music in the dining room ( the chef loves Pino Daniele ) the artwork on the wall, the changes over the years of his mise en place, etc. So- I usually don't answer - at least not right away. and pics? Well, maybe later.
BTW, towards the end of yesterday's lunch service, I managed to catch the chef's attention. 'Nino, look at this pic.. it's from2016,
your first season, my first visit...'
'2016...' he whispered. I think he also smiled...hard to tell with the mask, but I'd like to believe that he did...
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