Here we go again: the Chef Executive Natale Giunta, a sort of “winner takes all” , is about to take on another challenge for Sicily and Palermo which – needless to say – is set to be yet another great success. The most “multitasking” of young chefs around , winks to a career of a successful entrepreneur . Never forgetting his kitchen.
Eat Sicily is an exciting “concept” which is keeping Giunta very busy into tailoring his great idea to its best :
“Creating a top product implies that you can not leave out any detail : a successful enterprise must necessarily start with all the right steps” – says Giunta.
But what is this all about? Tell us more about this new project.
“It is a project that will become a reality by Christmas : a unique project in Sicily, which will bring together the true delights of Sicily. Manufacturers , retailers, dealers in the field of food & beverage to a very high range . No improvisation and nothing that is less than exceptional”
But, more in detail?
“A historic building in the center of the city: the former premises of the Supercinema, closed for several years for mafia infiltration, that is now being returned to the city in a completely innovative formula for Sicily: all that is good, indeed excellent, and thet is produced in this territory in the field of food & beverage will be present to Eat Sicily “ .
A huge commitment…
“Yes, and not just financially . The biggest commitment is to define agreements , sell the spaces , verify the quality of those who want to take part in the project by offering their own products. Even economically the effort is remarkable, especially since the project has no benefited of public funding and is supported solely by private individuals who strongly believe in the project itself. ”
What shall we expect from “Eat Sicily”?
“Twenty-two outlets spanning on an area of four thousand square meters distributed on four floors. But not only that: there will be also four restaurants of meat , fish , pasta and vegan . But there will also be a Birreria and a drink bar for the younger ones, then a chocolate shop , a coffee mill, a dairy and last bat note least the Street Food , on ground floor. Something never seen before and something for all tastes and all possible choices”
In other words, a real “temple of taste”.
“Yes indeed. And also because you can buy the products, from meat to vegetables not to mention the fish, and consume them in the various restaurants available . But not only: the top floor space is thought and designed for hosting parties and events , as well as a wine bar with the finest Sicilian labels and a fine restaurant managed by my chefs “
(*) So, this Christmas in Palermo Natale’s present will be delivered ?
“Yes: Natale – me – this Christmas will give to the city and the community a place where to spend hours just watching, learning , discovering : in fact, pretty much everyone knows how to eat, but a very few know what is produced in this land and “what” to eat . This is a good opportunity to learn much more closely the true Made in Sicily . But, apart from the little joke on my name , I am not alone in this great undertaking . But we will talk about that later . “
A great opportunity for employment, significant detail..
“Right. In Sicily you need to create synergy and you have to make sure that people will find employment opportunities and therefore decide to stay . Because only if the “good” Sicilians remain in Sicily , Sicily will rise again and will shine with its own light , escaping the underworld , the dishonesty , retaliations and blackmail. All conditions that are favored by unemployment and poverty. The redemption of Sicily is in the hands of the Sicilians themselves: Eat Sicily will give a job, and therefore a brand new start, to at least a hundred people . For beeing a private initiative it is for me a source of great pride ” (**)
Definitely a source of great pride for the most famous Palermo’s born chef in Italy, who – confident of the strong media consensus but especially confident of his own abilities – puts everything at disposal of Sicily. And Palermo : his city, in spite of everything .
Alessandra Verzera
(*) Natale means Christmas in italian, but it is also a common man’s first name in Sicily – equivalent to Noel – hence the joke about the “ Christmas/Natale’s present”.
(**) Natale Giunta, almost two years ago, stood up and spoke out loud against mafia and the “racket” people. He had been asked to pay ” for the safety and protection of himself, his restaurant and premises”, but fiercely refused to feed the mafia cash. He brought himself to a Carabinieri station and filed a lawsuit against these individuals. He then sat in court as a witness and sent 4 mafia members to jail. Since then he lives under protection and he is escorted 24 hours a day, as his life is in danger of “vendetta” from mafia.
