Architecture and Catering
Architecture and Catering
Aesthetics are undoubtedly a fundamental element both in pastry making and in cooking. Our goal is to make your ideas concrete. Thanks to the work of customization and consultancy we will be able to create unique dishes together.
Two of the most interesting projects that have been commissioned to us come from Florence, Chef Filippo Saporito and Chef Ombretta Giovannini, owners of the restaurant “La leggenda dei Frati”, wanted to create desserts that were representative of their wonderful city. From the genius of one of the greatest architects of the Renaissance, the “Brunelleschi Dome” came to their hands and from the Galleria dell’Accademia they were inspired by one of the most impressive sculptures ever: “Michelangelo’s David”.
To better describe what the customization experience can be, we decided to focus on the development of the Cupola project.
The Dome of the Cathedral, which dominates the Florentine skyline, was built between 1420 and 1436 to a design by the architect Filippo Brunelleschi. It is the largest brick vault in the world. The dome, covered with terracotta tiles and divided into eight segments by white marble ribs, rests on an octagonal drum on whose faces there are eight circular stained glass windows. At the top of the vault stands the lantern, a marble tower over twenty meters high on whose summit is the “golden ball” by Verrocchio. (Source: duomo.firenze.it)
(In the photo the view from the restaurant's personal terrace)
Once the idea of the dessert was defined, together with the client, we moved on to choosing the references on which to base the project.
With the help of a CAD program, the structure of the dome and the drum was recreated, eliminating the lantern to make the creation of the final product easier.
Once the project was completed, we moved on to 3D printing the matrix which was then used to create the silicone mold. The customized molds are made of 100% platinum silicone certified for food contact, among its characteristics it has excellent thermal resistance (-40°C +200°C) to be used both in the oven and in the freezer or blast chiller and is completely free of BPA substances.
In the final phase of the work we first create a computer rendering and then a test to ensure the functionality and result of the project.
Upon customer request, it is also possible to receive advice regarding the recipe. In this specific case, we created a recipe for the external icing of the cake that could guarantee perfect unmolding and the success of a product as detailed as possible.
As a finishing touch, we created a stencil of the Florence skyline that the Chefs used as an airbrushed decoration at the base of the dish.
From this collaborative journey, Filippo Saporito and Ombretta Giovannini’s “Cupola del Brunelleschi” was born: a plated dessert with ricotta, black cherry and chocolate, designed to be enjoyed while admiring the Dome from the terrace of the “La Leggenda dei Frati” restaurant.
(Project Rendering and Final Product Photo)
Article written by: Benedetta Sticchi
Project and Rendering: Marco De Donno
For the photos, thanks to Filippo Saporito and Ombretta Giovannini of the restaurant "La Leggenda dei Frati" in Florence, Via Costa San Giorgio 6/A.