Il Cacciatore, The Hunter’s restaurant, in Muccia a small town in the foothills of the Sibillini Mountains, has been run by the same family for 5 generations. Her husband, Luciano, used to be in charge of the grill, though he is now too ill to work. Her son comes back from Rome to help at the weekends.
Q: When did your interest in cooking start. Maria: Not until I was 20 years old. My parents owned a clothes shop and it was my husband’s family who had the restaurant.
Q: How did you learn to cook. Maria: Well to start with, my mother in law was very jealous of her kitchen and she was very reluctant to teach me, so I had to learn through observing her from a distance. Then people noticed I was a quick learner and so they began to teach me. I also read recipe books and asked people.
Q what inspires your cooking Maria: I love people’s appreciation! I like the praise, the compliments, the smiles on their faces. I have created my own recipes over the years. The inspiration comes from the ingredients. One of my most popular dishes is farro spaghetti with fresh tomatoes and aged pecorino cheese. My mushroom soup is only made with porcini and a really good meat stock. I like to mix things up a little: with beef tagliata (strips of grilled fillet steak), I’ll use strawberries and rocket as well, and dress it with a little crema di Balsamica.
Q How do you find being a woman chef in a traditionally male world? Maria: I don’t take any notice, I get on with the job. Male chefs are more respected, but I think women chefs are more considerate of their colleagues.
Q: How do you relax? Maria: I cook! We holiday at Porto San Giorgio on the coast with a friend and I cook fish by way of a change.
Albergo Ristorante Del Cacciatore
Via Spinabello 13
62034 Muccia (MC)
Tel. +39 0737/646121
http://www.delcacciatore.it
Women Chefs 