An Italian Adventure with Chef Simone One of the best young chefs of Italy is taking over La Mamma’s kitchen.

An Italian Adventure with Chef Simone
One of the best young chefs of Italy is taking over La Mamma’s kitchen.

Celebrating authentic Mediterranean flavours, La Mamma has just welcomed a new Italian chef, Simone Federici.
Chef Simone comes from a spectacular region of Abruzzo, particularly from Morino. This little village boasts a lush mountainside, waterfalls, beautiful forest and breath-taking views.
Taking up various part-time jobs at starred restaurants and luxury hotels of Italy, at the age of 15 he was ambitiously looking into the future and nurturing the ideas of traveling and exploring the world. The opportunity was not too long in coming and, as Simone enrolled in the Culinary Arts studies, he discovered that the exciting profession of a chef might be exactly what he was looking for. A medallist and a winner of numerous culinary competitions, Simone was announced one of the three best young chefs of Italy. He remembers, “When my career as a chef began to progress I figured that, perhaps, this was my niche”.
In 2011, already a successful and recognized professional, Simone still ventured further and achieved his Sommelier Diploma. What more can we ask of an Italian chef? As great wine makes good food excellent, chef believes that his extensive knowledge of wines truly complements his work as a chef.
Simone has a tough challenge in front of him: La Mamma restaurant has been known and loved by the capital’s residents for many years, what surprise dishes or special recipes will he opt for to please the crowd? Besides, Abu Dhabi’s gastronomic scene is so diverse that every resident is a gourmet to a certain extent. Nevertheless, the chef is very confident to win the hearts of sophisticated local foodies with traditional Italian recipes, unexpected combinations of flavours, modern style infusions and “picture-worthy” food presentations.

Simone believes that the Italian cuisine will always remain popular because it is based predominantly on the freshness of the ingredients cooked simply. “Our food features a variety of dishes that one can never get enough of and the life expectancy of an average Italian also proves that it is one of the healthiest diets in the world”, he resumes. In addition, one of the chef’s main cooking secrets is a so-called “sous-vide” technique (French for “under vacuum”) which uses a precise temperature to preserve the nutritional properties of food and enhance the flavour.
Simone has worked in some of the finest kitchens of Italy and The Caribbean and now, as he has brought his talent to the UAE capital, it is an absolute must for everyone to try his exquisite menu available at La Mamma restaurant.
Few of the chef’s signature dishes include Tortelloni al nero di seppia con ragu di pesce (Black squid ink tortelloni with seafood ragout), Lombetto di agnello, pure di patate alla mostarda e tartufo (Slow roasted lamb loin with mustard truffle mashed potatoes) and Tortelli di guancia di vitello in brodo infuso al timo, barbabietola e limone (Homemade veal cheek tortelli, thyme infused chicken broth, beetroot, lemon).
“A day in my kitchen is a new adventure that begins with a fridge full of only fresh ingredients”, Simone concludes. After all, who said Italians can’t do it better?

Booking Details

Date & time: Daily, lunch from 12:00–3:30 PM, dinner from 6:00 PM–11:00 PM.
Venue: La Mamma Italian restaurant, Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort Corniche Abu Dhabi.
Website: www.lamammaabudhabi.com
Booking: 02 677 3333 or email [email protected]