Tamara Mattii

My name is Tamara Mattii. Currently, I am an executive chef in La Piola restaurant. Even when I repeated this several times, I could hardly believe it.

I was born in Pisa, Italy. This country is well-known for its passion for gastronomy, high-quality products, and eating culture. Since I can recall, I have always dreamed about feeding my family with the dishes I made. My young years could be simply called “fiesta.” I adored parties, especially the moment of welcoming people to try the meals. I was absolutely happy when all the faces were shining with satisfied smiles and souse.

Now, I am eager to share my knowledge, my experience, and my vision. I have been in love with food creation for already 30 years. And what is also important for a creative personality is to be open to the world. I could never have dreamed of traveling so far. Asia has changed my spirit completely. It uncovered the very intimate emotions I’ve had about the food and the kitchen management in particular. I think Hong Kong is a melting pot of people. It suggests a unique opportunity to work with Chinese, Filipinos, Nepalese, and Vietnamese people. I’ve learned a lot about Asian culture from them.

Most of all, I like preparing handmade pasta and desserts. My routs are telling more about me. I may call my favorite recipes from my beloved Italy: “pappa al pomodoro”, “trippa alla fiorentina” and “fettunta”.

I may advise the readers never to lose their passion for challenges, always look for something new, and try alternative ways.

The dish we’re going to taste is called “agnolotti del plin,” chosen for its history, the ingredients used, and its name.

This is a typical homemade pasta from Piedmont filled with “castelmagno” (the king of Italian cheeses) cheese and traditionally called “plin” because of the way to handle it in order to give it its shape. Traditionally, it was made by the women on Sundays in the big farmhouses. In this case, it’s served in a “Parmigiano” basket after being sautéed with butter and sage.

Simple and delicious!