A story of love and fine dining

Chef, when are you reopening the restaurant in Porto Cervo? «The first week of June». And when are you closing in Verona, for the summer break? «The first week of June». Logical, but for sure one could have a little ConFusion – just to mention the name of the establishment – in this roaming of Italo Bassi between Veneto and Sardinia, and that of his cuisine between East and West, with a Japanese echo in the setting which has a decor for which, thanks also to wife and interior designer Tatyana Rozenfeld, «some people here in Verona refer to it as of “Lithuanian taste” because they are provincial and they don’t get it» she explains – indeed she has Russian-Lithuanian origins. Tatyana is a really nice character: she only drinks and is passionate about champagne, but she prepares extraordinary cocktails; she’s certainly original, like her style. But she has character: and she’s very friendly.

So ConFusion is the right name. Because you wouldn’t explain many things if you didn’t take into account an essential element that appears rarely in these pages and in food journalism in general: love, the irrational force par excellence. They form a strange couple, these two, but they’re very united and have shared choices that might seem bizarre, if they weren’t vivified by their relationship and an approach to challenge that one can date back to the days at the iconic Trigabolo. Bassi certainly doesn’t regret the steps taken in the recent years («I have beautiful memories of Enoteca Pinchiorri but it was time for a change») and continues a project that he started regardless of the obvious difficulties that one has to face when you’re not looking for a connection with a special local tradition which can be reassuring, even when working in the province.

He can afford it, after all: even now that instead of Pigeon in bread crust he dishes out the fabulous Yin Yang of raw red prawns, quinoa and ginger and avocado with leche de tigre and mango and fresh Siberian caviar, which is on its way to become his signature dish here at ConFusion just like the bird was in Florence. He can afford it thanks to the fame he deserved in the tri-starred and his talent shining as usual.

We had already included his Yin Yang in our perfect menu for 2016 (see: My perfect menu for 2016) so we tasted it again in one of the latest visits to Via Ponte Nuovo 9, in Verona. But we also tasted other equally convincing and intriguing dishes, which were not affected by some changes in the kitchen (the ex sous chef Ivan Bombieri decided to take on a solo adventure, to give new lymph to historic cafe Dante, also in Verona. And sushi man Masaki Inogouchi is now at Sakeya in Milan): after all there’s Italo who knows how to delight and Tatyana pairs this with creativity and intuition.

The duet works. And presents delicious recipes such as Fried raviolo filled with squilla mantis and artichokes with marjoram with puntarelle and cream of celeriac, which is about Italy but also recalls Bassi’s adventure in the Far East, at Pinchiorri Tokyo. We finish with really excellent cocktails, for us Lost Island (blue curaçao, syrup, aloe juice, fresh rosemary, star anise and cachaça) and Frida (tequila, guava, lime, pink pepper, flakes of black pepper). 
Translated into English by Slawka G. Scarso