The New Atto of Vito Mollica

After a successful year, Chic Nonna becomes Atto. Our interview with the star chef

Vito Mollica's Atto is the new name for the restaurant of Michelin-starred Chef Vito Mollica, who continues his journey in culinary excellence by saying goodbye to Chic Nonna and becoming owner of Mine Lifestyle Firenze Srl, the company that manages the catering at Palazzo Portinari Salviati in Florence.

He changes the name but not the philosophy of his restaurant, and the choice of the name Atto is not accidental, as he told us when we caught up with him among the beautiful rooms of the Salotto Portinari Bistrot for an interview about his new Atto.

Why this name change and what is different from Chic Nonna?

We started the Chic Nonna project with investors from Dubai, where I provided consulting and they provided financing. The idea was to develop other destinations as well, we achieved great results but for different reasons at some point we decided to split up. They kept the brand and we rebranded this unique place. Same passion, same location, same people, what we have built in this year and a half with Chic Nonna remains. Atto is a name full of meaning, every dish is an act of love, but it is only a starting point, there are still many acts to be put.

You have made yourself known and appreciated over many years at Four Seasons Firenze, and now the Florentines continue to follow and esteem you in your adventure at Palazzo Portinari Salviati...

Travelers are important but Florentines are indispensable. Even when I worked at the Four Seasons, I always wanted it to be not just a place for tourists, but reachable and usable for residents as well. If you make the residents of a city happy, you make everyone else happy as well.

The estimation is also shown by the numbers, it is getting harder and harder to find space at Atto...

We have 32 to 40 seats, depending on how much we maximize the tables. While at Salotto there is a constant coming and going, between those who stop only for a coffee or an aperitif AND those who stay longer for dinner as well, Atto is an experience, there is a ritual, a welcome, an attention, one comes to spend an evening. We don't do second shifts, and we also offer valet parking.

Atto di Vito Mollica

Your cuisine always pays attention to seasonality and raw materials, what do you have in mind for this fall?

My kitchen never stops, always renewing itself from season to season. Now we are ready to welcome in the kitchen and work with porcini, we are thinking about truffles, chestnuts, pumpkin, we are ready to host this wonder of the fruit and vegetable market.

I piatti di Vito Mollica

Among all the suppliers you know and collaborate with, is there anyone you are particularly attached to?

I am very attached to all my products and suppliers, when you create a good bond with them I don't change them, the beauty of my work is also this: the relationships I have built over time. In general, we always try to be attentive to younger people. No doubt this season I collaborate so much with Savini Tartufi, with Firenze Funghi but also with Saccardi and Giotto at the Novoli Fruit and Vegetable Market. Then we have people like Tipico and Ornella who work with small artisans and bring us some flours from the territory that are more sought after.

So for this fall, what are the dishes we absolutely must try?

At Atto without a doubt the risotto caprese with humpback shrimp marinated in basil, but also the ravioli with squash blossoms and a black olive cream, vegetarian and very delicate. While at Salotto bistrot the rigatoni all'aglione, topped with crusco crumbs, give off a sweet scent when they come out that everyone turns around to see where that fragrance comes fromo.

I cavatelli di Vito Mollica

Are you already thinking about Christmas and the holidays as well?

Absolutely, we have decided to celebrate on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for lunch, while we close on Christmas Eve for dinner and on the 26th, so everyone can also celebrate with their families. We are also planning a big party for New Year's Eve.

Speaking of parties, Palazzo Portinari is also the place is ideal for doing the events, lately you are doing a lot of them....

Yes, we have a great demand, downtown in my opinion has been lacking such a place. At the Salotto Portinari we can accommodate up to 140 people, all seated, with reception and entertainment, 100 meters from the Duomo. The Atto Hall, on the other hand, is available on closed days or if someone wants to reserve it for their exclusive use.

Atto di Vito Mollica

Your arrival at Palazzo Portinari has been good for the palace and the whole area, how is this part of the city changing?

The palace is an exclusive club, it has 25 apartments, 13 rooms and a beautiful spa that is also open to outsiders. Today thanks to the Salotto and Atto there is a lot of coming and going, whereas until a little more than a year and a half ago the Florentine avoided this area especially in the evening. We are really very happy about this, also because the palace has an incredible history, we are in the heart of the city, close to historical artisans like Foto Locchi with whom we collaborate a lot, we do beautiful projections in the evening inside the smoking area. This palace deserves this luster and to be run by good custodians. The goal is to be something new in the oldest part of the city. It is a unique place, there is also a chapel inside the Palace with frescoes by Alessandro Lori, which is also perfect for having a symbolic wedding ceremony.