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IN FOCUS | 17 www.italchamind.eu 2Veneti A corner of Italy in the centre of London B efore moving to the UK, I lived in Venice for my university studies but, since then, the words “baccalà”, “bigoli” and “sarde in saor” were only a faded memory. What a surprise when I read that one of the few typical Veneto restaurants in London was just a few minutes from my office! Despite it being so close to me, I had never been to 2Veneti before and I regret not having paid a visit all this time. The great hospitality, the cosy yet elegant atmosphere, the marvellous dishes combined together contributed to a fantastic experience. Pictures of the world-famous Palladian Villas (enlisted in the UNESCO world site heritage sites) and of a Venice map hang on the wall, providing contest to the place. The two rooms of the restaurant have quite an intimate feeling that makes the restaurant the perfect place to enjoy a relaxed dinner, fully Italian-style. BRINGING VENETOTO LONDON Opened in 2006, the restaurant’s name refers to the two owners, the two “veneti” who invested in the idea. Simon Piovesan, half English half Italian who grew up in Veneto, and Stephan Frassoni, a wine supplier. As Stephan left after three years for family problems, Simon continued managing the restaurant with his wife Patrizia. Considering his roots and love for the Italian hospitality and tradition, Simon decided to propose a menu that would be loyal to the Veneto recipes. Our great host for the night was Piero who, as first thing, explained the menu and its unique formula: there are no prices next to each dish, but an indication of how much one dish is, compared to two, three or four dishes. The more chosen, the less is spent. We were welcomed with an aperitivo that included olives, broad beans, a home-made focaccia with sundried tomatoes and of course the regional and world-wide famous spritz. We then decided to follow Piero’s lead: pan-fried scallops wrapped in pancetta with creamy saffron and broad beans for me, and grilled octopus with pea sprouts, cream of peas and new potatoes for my dinner companion as appetisers. We were also pleasantly surprised by the addition of fried zucchini flowers stuffed with cod. As wisely suggested by our host, we opted for bigoli with duck ragu (a characteristic pasta shape from the region) and a parmigiana dish. Even though parmigiana is not from Veneto, it truly deserved to be ordered as it was the best we have ever tried! We finally enjoyed veal scaloppine, but my eyes had already spotted the tiramisu, which was assembled on the spot by the chef. Every dish was paired by a wine chosen by Piero, who took care of us during the whole dinner and gave us the opportunity to try the best offers on the menu. We discovered a wonderful spot with an authentic and unique menu, worthy a visit for a pleasant work lunch or relaxed dinner. Starting from October 2019, 2Veneti is open on Sundays at lunch time as well. · 2Veneti Restaurant 10 Wigmore Street W1U 2RD, London www.2veneti.com