Mazzo

August – September 2019

Marco Baccanelli and Francesca Barreca are the proudly Roman and supremely creative couple behind pioneering 10-seater restaurant, Mazzo.

Since opening their doors in 2013 the duo have breathed new life into the city’s Centocelle neighbourhood, enticing the in-crowd to the outskirts with with their soulful take on traditional Roman recipes. Flavours at Mazzo are turned up to eleven, Black Axe Mangal-style, and every plate that leaves the tiny open kitchen heroes rigorously sourced and fiercely local ingredients. Before Marco and Francesca came along, biodynamic fruit and veg and organic meats simply weren’t a thing in those parts but all that has now changed. ‘The Fooders’, as they’re collectively known, have started a movement, drawing international acclaim from the likes of Lucky Peach, Munchies, Action Bronson’s Fu*k that’s Delicious and The New York Times with simple but flavour-packed dishes like their epic ‘rigatoni alla carbonara’ and a deep-fried ‘trippa alla Romana’ (with tomato sauce, local pecorino and mint) so crispy it’s been known to make grown men weep.