Introduction to a Taste of Home
Chicago Chef Art Smith has cooked for everyone from President Barack Obama to Oprah Winfrey. Last March, in a narrow chamber somewhere inside the Vatican, Smith served the pope — fried chicken and biscuits. Actually, the future pope. It would be another couple of months before Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost would be unveiled as Pope Leo XIV.
The New Restaurant Concept
The Chicago-born pontiff can expect to enjoy plenty more Smith-inspired cuisine after the Vatican announced Friday that Smith, the executive chef at Reunion on Navy Pier, has been picked, along with Chicago restaurateur Phil Stefani, to develop a culinary concept on the sprawling grounds of the traditional papal summer retreat, Borgo Laudato Si’, about 15 miles southeast of Rome. The restaurant, the only one on the grounds of the 135-acre retreat, is expected to open in April and will seat about 500 people. A name has yet to be chosen, those close to the project said.
Menu Expectations
Given the Chicago connection, what can diners expect to eat? Italian beef? Chicago-style hot dogs? The menu is still under consideration, but the breakdown will look something like this, Stefani told the Chicago Sun-Times: 70% Italian, 20% from Chicago and 10% Peruvian (the pope spent two decades of service in that South American country).
Chef Art Smith
Chef Art Smith, photographed in 2013, has been picked to help develop a culinary concept on the sprawling grounds of the traditional papal summer retreat, Borgo Laudato Si’, about 15 miles southeast of Rome. The restaurant is expected to open in April.
Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun-Times
Restaurant Operations
The restaurant is expected to serve breakfast and lunch when the grounds are open to the public and will also be available for private events year-round. But how exactly did two Chicago-based guys get the nod to open a restaurant in a country with no shortage of stellar chefs? “I don’t know — an act of God?” Stefani said, before adding, “How could a Chicago cardinal be at that dinner? If you’ve got the answer to that, I’ll win the lottery tonight.” The idea for a restaurant on the grounds belonged to the late Pope Francis, and he gave his committee the authority to select the eventual team, Stefani said.
The Selection Process
Smith’s meal in March for a dozen or so people was an audition of sorts, Stefani said. But even though the future head of the Catholic Church was in the room at the time, the committee as a whole made the final decision, said Stefani, who travels to Italy regularly. The restaurant announcement was part of a wider project on the grounds of the retreat, and Pope Leo was there Friday at its unveiling. The project includes an ecological center on the grounds, home also to a villa and lush gardens. Guided tours of the gardens, farmland and an educational center are expected to be offered.
Conclusion
The new restaurant concept at the papal summer retreat is an exciting development that will bring a taste of home to Pope Leo XIV. With a menu that blends Italian, Chicago, and Peruvian cuisine, it is sure to be a unique and delicious experience for all who visit. The restaurant’s expected opening in April will be a great addition to the retreat’s grounds, which already feature beautiful gardens, a villa, and an ecological center.
FAQs
Q: Who will be operating the new restaurant at the papal summer retreat?
A: The restaurant will be operated by Chicago Chef Art Smith and restaurateur Phil Stefani.
Q: What type of cuisine can diners expect to find at the restaurant?
A: The menu will be a blend of 70% Italian, 20% Chicago-style, and 10% Peruvian cuisine.
Q: When is the restaurant expected to open?
A: The restaurant is expected to open in April.
Q: Will the restaurant be open to the public?
A: Yes, the restaurant will serve breakfast and lunch when the grounds are open to the public and will also be available for private events year-round.
