Meet the Co-Chefs Leading Maranello’s Culinary Workshop

The Cavallino restaurant in Maranello has launched a high-cuisine menu titled Ferrari – La genesi, which uses culinary techniques to mirror the history and engineering of the Ferrari brand. Co-chefs Riccardo Forapani and Virginia Cattaneo lead the kitchen, creating dishes that translate the aesthetic and technical evolution of the automotive manufacturer into a gastronomic experience.

Culinary Leadership and Design at Cavallino

Riccardo Forapani and Virginia Cattaneo manage the “officina del gusto” (workshop of taste) at Cavallino. Forapani’s approach to the kitchen is influenced by his upbringing as the son of a mechanic, blending a technical mindset with professional cooking. The pair focuses on a menu that treats the plate as a canvas for the brand’s heritage, emphasizing form and flavor in a way that aligns with Ferrari’s design philosophy.

The Ferrari – La genesi Concept

The Ferrari – La genesi menu is designed as a tribute to the origins and evolution of the “Cavallino” (Prancing Horse). According to the restaurant’s presentation, the dishes are not merely themed but are constructed to evoke specific eras of the company’s history. This includes the use of ingredients and plating styles that reflect the transition from early mechanical engineering to modern high-performance luxury.

The kitchen utilizes specific ingredients, such as pomodoro (tomato), to ground the high-concept dishes in traditional Italian flavors while employing modern culinary shapes and forms to represent the aerodynamic and structural elements of Ferrari vehicles.

Integration of Automotive Heritage in Maranello

Located in the heart of Maranello, the restaurant functions as an extension of the Ferrari ecosystem. The Ferrari – La genesi menu serves as a bridge between the company’s industrial identity and the local culinary culture of the Emilia-Romagna region. By framing the kitchen as a “workshop,” the chefs align the act of cooking with the precision and craftsmanship found in the nearby Ferrari factories.

The menu’s structure follows a progression that mirrors a historical timeline, moving from the foundational elements of the brand’s “genesis” toward contemporary interpretations of luxury and speed. This approach allows the restaurant to present the brand’s legacy through taste and visual presentation rather than traditional museum-style exhibits.