York chef off to Umbria, Italy to Lillero Trattoria

As Previously reported by The Press, chef Alessandro Venturi of Spaghetti Junction, a Roman currently living in York, David Ritson of Bobbin Bagels and Big Coat Supper Club, and Harry Johns of Holy Mountain Kitchen, who have already successfully collaborated at various events and venues across the city including York Food Festival, Angel on the Green, Pig & Pastry, and 2 Many Wines, received an invitation to cook at a prestigious bakery in Rome earlier this year.

Throughout their visit the three cooks immersed themselves in the world of Italian cuisine, collaborating with local bakers, chefs, and friends to create a menu highlighting classic English dishes with a delightful Italian twist, using the finest fresh local produce.

Now Alessandro is off to the Italian region of Umbria during the first week of October and part of his visit will include cooking brunch and Sunday roast using local Italian ingredients such as fresh truffles and mushrooms.

This time he will be joined by Chloe
Ellington-Maguire and Joe Mckenna from the recently opened Rudy’s
York and bartender Samuel Greedy from Leeds’ critically acclaimed
Empire Café, a favourite of food critic Jay Rayner.

Some of the food on offer (Image: lens_cowboy)

Alessandro says he is thrilled at the prospect of the second leg getting underway.

He was mentored by Michelin-starred chef, Vitantonio Lombardo and worked in kitchens across Europe.

And Alessandro is already known in York for the A’ROMA PastaBar, a successful street-food truck he used to run in the Shambles Market, and in 2021 he teamed up with Jacopo Di Carlo, who he met in the South of Italy while working at Vitantonio Lombardo, for a pop up at Fossgate Social.

In York he has also worked for Melton's Restaurant in Scarcroft Road and Haxby Bakery and every year takes part in the York Food and Drink Festival doing cooking demonstrations.

The trio in Rome (Image: Supplied)

He said: "It's a collaboration between Italian and British chefs and bar tenders.

"Following the success of the first invasion in Rome the next chapter of the adventure will start on Sunday, October 6 in Terni, Umbria at Lillero Trattoria.

"There's a set by DJ Blond, a cocktail menu by Samuel Greedy and a graffiti session by Herone and Matt Glasby."