Restaurateur's two‑course rule stirs debate in Italian holiday hotspot
A restaurateur from the Italian region of Liguria has been criticized for requiring each person to order at least two courses. She argues that this ensures the quality of service without compromising on ingredients.
According to the local daily "Il Secolo XIX," the owner of a small, renowned, and previously highly rated establishment in the town of Camogli, near Genoa, ignited a debate amongst holiday-goers in Italy.
Valentina Mura explained in response to the criticism that the requirement to order at least two courses was not an easy decision. She added that it was made to maintain the quality of the dishes served without cutting back on ingredients or reducing staff at the restaurant, which has only 18 seats and where diners can stay at the table as long as they wish.
The restaurateur explains
"The choice was either to introduce a fixed-price menu or to require ordering a starter and a main course. In the end, we chose the latter option," explained the restaurateur.
She assured, "There are no speculative intentions here; we don't want to earn more. It's just about being able to stay the same."
Italian media note that this move goes against the current trend of sharing a single portion of pasta or pizza for financial reasons or to watch one's weight. The gastronomy industry associations have supported the criticized restaurateur from Liguria, who does not intend to back down from her decision.
