In a city like Milan full creative ferment, finally it gets a new life one of those ’50s cult places, left to itself for too long. Many Milanese like me, passing in front of the strongly desired by Enrico Mattei old gas station, have fantasized about a possible rebirth and finally this dream come true today and is called Garage Italy.
For all lovers of cooking and motors, Thursday, November 9 the new restaurant, Garage Italia, opens its doors and today at the press conference, the chef Carlo Cracco, the entrepreneur Lapo Elkann and the architect Michele De Lucchi, presented their new creation: a fusion of food and engines in a class and luxury blend.
“Milan has the responsibility and the honor to represent the flagship of the Italian Renaissance in the global landscape, liaising closely with other cultural and business centers in the world. And it is for this reason that I wanted to create a space to share, create and savor the best of our country, bringing together under one roof the Italian excellence in the field of creativity, design, motion and food “– said excited Lapo Elkann.
And it is precisely in the name of the Italian tradition that was born the project Garage Italia: 1700mq distributed and arranged over three floors, where passion, creativity and excellence of our country come together to give new life to the historic gas station in Piazzale Accursio.
Immediately after the front door which incorporates the original glazing, the guests will be greeted by a huge cloud of over 1,100 models suspended bar area.
As a tailor prepares a dress made and harmoniously follows the lines of the body, at Garage Italia will be able to make unique any vehicle, be it a car, a motorcycle, an airplane, a helicopter or a boat, with tailor customizations made, aimed at the research, the balance of the components, the study of materials and the re-processing of the customer’s dreams, thanks to the “Maestros” a highly specialized team.
Behind, however, takes the form a real “Materioteca”, a large library shows in fact, the quality and rich colors of painted sheet metal, fabrics and leathers.
Also on the ground floor, it has an area set up for all car enthusiasts and professional racers, who will be able to “guide track” a Ferrari, thanks to a professional simulator and an instructor support.
The scale, characterized by the classic tires grooves, leading to the first floor and opened the curtain on the new restaurant signed by Cracco, whose cuisine will be managed by Chef Gabriele Faggionato. At the center of the room is proudly displayed the body of a Ferrari 250 GTO, which has been transformed into a station cocktails to enliven the evenings. On the ceiling there is instead the shape of a true electric toy track, with twenty-two mini models of Formula 1, including two Ferrari deliberately positioned close to the finish line. Along the perimeter are benches, tables and chairs specially designed for the restaurant as well as nine Ferrari Daytona seats and two seats of the Ferrari 599 who have become of the seats, while the sofa was created inspired by the historic Ferrari Gianni Agnelli.
The restaurant area is flanked on one side by a large outdoor terrace “fenced” by tropical vegetation that seems to continue in the foliage of the trees of Viale Certosa, on the other hand on the tip, overlooking Milan is a little gem : the “Riva Privèe”, which was set up as the famous Aquarama speedboat, with wooden floors and sofas covered with water releases in the iconic colors of the famous Italian nautical brand.
“The food we offer is of Made In Italy, with simple dishes and accessible to all, with absolute quality and search for raw materials, which departs from the great wealth of Italian and regional dishes – explains Carlo Cracco – and menu we added to the names of the dishes of references to the world of cars and engines, to create a common thread with the environment and with the world Garage Italy “.
The culinary offerings start at a breakfast moving to a light lunch and finish on aperitif and dinner, Garage Italia, it will be open every day from 9:30 am to 2 am.
