An anarchist at the Stovetop

On 21 March, at the magnificent residence of Palazzo Ferratoli in Rome, Antonello Colonna presented his first book An anarchist at the Stovetop. This is not just a simple collection of recipes nor a manual of what to do at the stove. Its 123 pages recount a succession of anecdotes, adventures and meetings with famous and non-famous people that marked the history of Antonello’s famous “Porta Rossa” restaurant in Labico, the twenty-year period from when he took the reins of the historic family restaurant to the present.

In the appendix at the end of the book, the Chef provides some of the recipes that have been with him since his childhood. The section entitled ““My” recipes: the dishes of my mother, the “secrets” of my father”, includes strictly Rome-Lazio dishes, such as Ruggero panzanella salad, Roman chicory salad, amatriciana, cart-driver’s spaghetti, grilled spring lamb and San Giuseppe rice fritters, just to name a few.

An anarchist at the Stovetop is a book of recollections, memories and experiences of a life lived.