Qafiz
Santa Cristina d'Aspromonte, Italy
⭐1 Star
The Experience
From Michelin Guide
Although getting to this restaurant is not easy, the pleasant drive that takes you through Calabria’s beautiful countryside dotted with countless olive trees makes it even more worthwhile. At the end of your journey, you arrive at an elegant late-18C villa with its adjoining old olive-oil mill that houses this restaurant crowned by a typical cross-vaulted ceiling. In 2023, a revolutionary refurbishment moved the kitchen into the centre of the dining room where guests sit around the counter-style Chef’s Table or at the single table set slightly to one side, enjoying just one tasting menu which is served to all guests at the same time. The focus here is on Calabrian ingredients (pigeon and oysters are sourced from outside the region), with produce such as the excellent extra-virgin olive oil, aromatic herbs and vegetables produced on the property, all transformed into creative and original dishes in front of guests by the skilful chefs. After your meal, you may like to move to the beautiful Aspro Cocktail Bar for a coffee, a small pastry or a cocktail. If you wish to prolong your stay, accommodation is now available in Casa Qafiz.
Unique Things
From Visitor Experiences
Revolutionary Kitchen Design: In 2023, Qafiz underwent a radical refurbishment that moved the kitchen to the center of the dining room. Guests sit around a counter-style Chef’s Table or at a single table set slightly to one side, all enjoying the same tasting menu served simultaneously, creating an intimate and interactive dining experience.
Deep Connection to Local Territory: Chef Nino Rossi’s cuisine is deeply inspired by the Aspromonte region’s nature and ingredients. He uses local products such as white fir, porcini mushrooms, and large grazing sheep from the Grecanic area, emphasizing a modern, technical cuisine that evolves through the territory rather than being limited by it.
Historic and Scenic Setting: The restaurant is housed in an elegant late-18th century villa with an adjoining old olive-oil mill, featuring a typical cross-vaulted ceiling. The journey to Qafiz itself is part of the experience, as it is located in Calabria’s beautiful countryside dotted with countless olive trees, enhancing the uniqueness of the visit.
Ingredient Stars
From Visitor Experiences
The most honored or signature ingredients at the Michelin-starred restaurant Qafiz in Santa Cristina d'Aspromonte are:
Extra-virgin olive oil: Produced on the property, this high-quality olive oil is a fundamental element in many dishes, showcasing the region's agricultural heritage and enhancing flavors with its intense, fruity notes.
Wild herbs and aromatic herbs: Foraged from the local hinterland and cultivated on-site, these herbs add distinctive scents and freshness, reflecting the natural Calabrian landscape and contributing to the restaurant’s identity cuisine.
Vegetables from the estate: Fresh, seasonal vegetables grown on the property are creatively transformed into original dishes, emphasizing the connection to the land and seasonality.
Pigeon and oysters: While sourced from outside Calabria, these ingredients are carefully selected to complement the local produce and add refined seafood and game elements to the tasting menu.
Parts of the pig (for ancestral cooking): Used in the traditional Calabrese preparation featured in the "Pig Calabria" project, where pig parts are slowly cooked in their own fat, this ingredient honors local culinary traditions and is reinterpreted creatively by guest chefs.
These ingredients are significant as they root the cuisine deeply in Calabrian tradition and terroir, while allowing for innovative and contemporary presentations, often prepared and served in an immersive kitchen-dining experience.