Ep 415: Gianfranco Sorrentino of Il Gattopardo -- the famed restaurateur on the intrinsic and inseparable link between Italian food, wine, and tradition

<p>To truly understand Italian wine, you have to understand its integral ties to Italian culture. In Italy, food and wine tell the story of a region’s cultural identity, history, and the character of its people. With my recent seminars on Sicilia (<a href= "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6FXGlju1DczRaZleFC3XNA" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">on YouTube if you missed them</a>), and an impending trip to Piedmont with a group of Wine for Normal People listeners, the interplay of Italian wine, food, and culture has been top of mind. It was in this context that I invited the famed New York restaurateur, and Italian cultural advocate, <a href= "http://www.ilgattopardonyc.com" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Gianfranco Sorrentino</a>, on the show.</p> <p><a href="http://www.ilgattopardonyc.com" target="_blank" rel= "noopener"><img style= "display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/2020-09-13_Gruppo_Headshots_Gianfrancopsd-292x300.png" alt="" width="240" height="247" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Gianfranco is originally from Naples in southern Italy and after many years of managing restaurants all over Europe and Asia, he settled in New York. He learned the ropes, working for some of the most prestigious restaurants in Manhattan and then opening the first fine dining establishment in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).</p> <p> </p> <p>He opened his first venture, <a href= "http://www.ilgattopardonyc.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Il Gattopardo</a>, in New York in 2001 (a very difficult time to open!). In 2011, he opened <a href="http://www.theleopardnyc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Leopard at des Artistes</a>, his restaurant in the New York landmark Hotel des Artistes and, in 2014, <a href="http://www.mozzarellaevino.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mozzarella e Vino</a> opened directly across from MoMA.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://gruppo-italiano.com" target="_blank" rel= "noopener"><img style= "display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-