A collection of local restaurants are coming together on Sunday to host a fundraiser for Italy's Amatrice region, which was struck by a deadly earthquake last month. Gianluca Legrottaglie, partner, general manager and wine director at 54 Mint, is spearheading the benefit, which he's calling SF Amatrice.
The earthquake hit close to home for Legrottaglie, who had family staying in central Italy at the time of the quake. “The day after the earthquake, I had a few phone calls from friends checking with me, making sure my family and everybody that I know was fine," he said. "We found out that they were safe and there was no damage to the house ... Fortunately, none of the people I know were effected in a dramatic way. But I thought, 'We need to do something for these people.' It was devastating."
Legrottaglie, who also owns SoMa Italian eatery Montesacro, wasn't the only local restaurateur impacted by the quake. Aldo Blasi, owner of Pacific Heights' Milano, is deeply connected to the area, Legrottaglie said. “His brother lives just outside of Amatrice. They have several people, friends from childhood, that didn’t make it.”
After Legrottaglie decided to launch the fundraiser, Blasi got in contact with the town's mayor, who told them that any funds raised would be best spent on supporting the Amatrice school district.
"One in three schools there have been destroyed," Legrottaglie explained. "Essentially, we want to get the funds to rebuild a school for children.”
A host of local restaurants and food makers have donated their time and/or goods for the occasion, including Acquerello, A.G. Ferrari, Octavia, Zero Zero, Bi-Rite Market, Humphry Slocombe, Locanda, Cheese Plus, Rose Pistola, Delfina, Emporio Rulli, Palio D’Asti and Piccino. New donations are being added daily, with coordination and organizational help from Tablehopper and Dinner with Friends.
“So far, the most rewarding part has been the way people responded and tried to contribute to the event," Legrottaglie said. "Even if they say, 'Hey, I can’t bring any food, but I can help out with serving tables, bussing, dishwashing.'"
The party will be held in four two-hour shifts; attendees can choose their preferred time slo. The $75 ticket includes wine, Campari and Aperol cocktails, and a big spread of food, like antipasti, pinsas (flatbreads), gelato, and the Amatrice region's famed pasta all'amatriciana, made with tomato, guanciale, and red chile. All proceeds will go to Amatrice's schools.
“Almost everything has been donated,” Legrottaglie said. “We’re going to be making food all day long for the guests.”
To host the party, Legrottaglie had to cancel all of 54 Mint's reservations for the day. “I made the drastic decision, called everyone, made them understand what was going on and canceled all our reservations." Happily, "most of them bought tickets to the event" instead.
“At the end of the day, whatever it’s gonna be, our contribution is going to be just the tip of the iceberg next to what these people need to get their life back," Legrottaglie said. "But I think if we can all think that way, if everyone creates little icebergs, something can be done.”
