A combined restaurant and shop

Bearing a symbol of a chilli pepper, a traditional product of Italy’s Abruzzo region, and the words «Fattoria Toccaferro» («Touchwood Farm»), the restaurant’s sign makes an explicit reference to local superstition, warding off bad luck while inviting passers-by to step inside the premises in the centre of Pescara and discover its original dine-and-shop formula. The format, which allows customers to purchase regional specialities after ordering them from the menu, replicates that of the first Fattoria Toccaferro opened in 2016 in the city’s university area and is based on an original idea by entrepreneur brother and sister Daniele and Federica Capperi. «I’ve travelled a lot and absorbed everything I’ve seen like a sponge,» explains Daniele Capperi.»So it was only natural for me to re-elaborate all those experiences and develop a concept centring on the Abruzzo region and its traditions. We wanted to reproduce local flavours inspired by our grandmothers’ home cooking. But at the same time we were keen to maintain a smart and easy look, particularly in terms of the interior design. Rather than a formal environment, we wanted to create a welcoming, familiar atmosphere that would appeal to a varied clientele of all ages while at the same time offering a high-quality menu.» For the project, the entrepreneur mostly worked with a skilled carpenter and hired professionals and engineers for the plant installation, which partly involved the use of industrial-look piping. Fattoria Toccaferro extends over a total floor space of 400 m2 on two levels. The lower floor is occupied by service spaces such as the storerooms, the employees’ changing room and bathroom, a small workshop and the laundry room. The 230 m2 upper floor hosts the 110-seat restaurant. The business’s slogan of «eat what you see, buy what you eat» is reflected in its spatial organisation. The rectangular layout includes the cooking and serving area as well as display units and counters with the finest selection of locally-sourced produce, just as in a conventional food store. Everything is in view to ensure the maximum transparency. The large kitchen is divided into three areas: one for fresh pasta and antipasti, another for grilled meat with a large wood-burning fireplace and meat counter, and finally the wood-burning oven for cooking pizza. The floor next to these areas is paved with Cementine20 porcelain tiles from Fioranese chosen in a Mix colour to create a nostalgic retro effect. The tiling follows the distribution flows from the entrance to the exit and serves as a kind of «invitation», Capperi explains. The splendid colours of the vintage tiles, which accentuate their functionality, are echoed in the colour of the chairs. Wood plays a key role in the interior design, appearing on the tables and counter with a burnt finish. Those burnt touches combined with the Corten steel effect of the large windows and the yellow light emitted by handcrafted lamps enhance the sensation of warm hospitality.