Romano Perella of Amore fame knows his Italian food – so all eyes are on the gastronome as he prepares to unveil his new concept next month on the site of Glasgow’s old Mediterraneo.
The word ‘Malocchio’ refers to the deeply ingrained Southern Italian superstition around the evil eye – but this new restaurant in the heart of the city invokes the traditional amulet which wards off bad intentions and brings good luck.
Perella said: “This is really exciting for us. Malocchio is the first concept I’ve personally created from scratch, which has helped shape the positive feeling around it all.
“For us, Malocchio is all about positivity, about negativity bouncing off the shield of good vibes so none of the bad stuff in life gets to you.
“I want it to be a sanctuary, an escape from your daily life and problems, from the world and the negative energy – inside it’s all smiles and that sigh of truly relaxing for whatever time you can take.”
Perella stressed that quality food is at the very heart of the venture, with everything freshly made on site, based on the rich culture and tradition he grew up with.
“I’m not reinventing the wheel – this restaurant is showcasing the amazing heritage Italy has given me, using all I have learned to create something genuinely new and different.
“It’s grown from family and tradition but presented in a modern way that’s still respectful to the old ideas.
“Ultimately this is a very modern take on Italian cuisine which isn’t available in Glasgow at the moment,” he said.
“That’s what the name and the concept are about – and it doesn’t matter if you believe in superstition or not, you will believe in our food.”
Perella promises fresh house-made pasta created from scratch on site and a ‘relaxed attitude’.
The idea is sharing portions aimed at three dishes per person – larger than starter size but not quite as big as main – so it’s ideal for people to try lots of things from the menu together.
He said: “I’m excited to show people what we are building in terms of the room itself, transforming the former Mediterraneo completely. You won’t believe it’s the same place.
“But also what we are building as a concept with a real social feel, a relaxed, modern dining experience with superb cocktails, wines and of course a style of food that you just can’t get in the city at the moment.
“I hope Glasgow loves Malocchio – it’s very special to me and I want it to be a real experience, something people look forward to as a break from real life.”
Malocchio is scheduled to open in late August.
