89 JUNE 27- JULY 3, 2024 NEW TIMES B E S T O F M I A M I ® 2 0 2 4 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com An iconic chef famous throughout the world, from Rome to Miami: THE STORY OF NONNA IRIS AND THE MYTH OF “OSTERIA DA FORTUNATA” HISTORY Cooking is a momentary pleasure, you savor it, you feel it and then it remains only in your memories. But there is a way to make the kitchen borderless and timeless: how? Iris, the undisputed queen of carbonara in Rome, explains it to you first hand: she is in fact a culinary icon who continues to amaze with her 93 years of age. Since she set foot in the kitchen at just 13 years old, the elderly chef has never stopped cultivating her passion for gastronomy. “I started by washing dishes but then, with my eyes, I stole the secrets of good Ro- man cuisine,” he recalls in an interview with Corriere. “During the war we made Strozzapreti, strictly by hand, and sold them to the labourers”. Today he runs eight restaurants, carrying on a culinary legacy begun in the 1920s by his grandmother Fortunata. The “Da Fortunata” tavern, named in honor of his grandmother, has become a point of reference for traditional Roman cuisine, with carbonara continuing to be the most popular dish. Every day, Iris welcomes famous clients, VIPs, politicians and tourists, all of whom have in common being lovers of good food. The chef treats everyone with respect and courte- sy, and this mood is reflected in the high regard she enjoys among Roman and international customers. Her ability to create an unforgettable experience is what makes her a true legend of Italian cuisine. Iris also personally takes care of the management of her restaurants, leading with firmness and deter- mination a real family team: with four restaurants in Rome, two in Milan, one in Bologna and even one in Miami, her brand employs 480 people. The key to Iris’s success lies in its simple but effective philosophy: do few things, but do them well and always in the same way. His constant presence in restaurants, from 11am to 7pm, is a tangible sign of his commit- ment and passion for cooking. In every dish prepared by Iris you can taste the love for tradition and attention to detail. Its pasta makers, always in plain sight in the shop window, add points in the eyes of custom- ers and define the identity of the brand. In all of this, Iris’s skill goes beyond the simple preparation of dishes: she embod- ies the values of courtesy, generosity and dedication towards her employees, who she considers an integral part of her large family. ADVERTORIAL 607 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139 | (786) 809-3950 | osteriadafortunatamiami.com |
