Born and raised in Modena, Massimo Bottura had a typically Italian upbringing (as in greatly influenced by matriarchs in the family), the Michelin starred chef developed an interest in cooking after watching his mother, grandmother and aunt in the kitchen preparing family meals. After a stint at one of the world’s top restaurants –Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse à l’Hôtel de Paris in 1994, Bottura finally struck it out on his own, eventually earning his third star in 2015. Now, the tastemaker turns his eye to the ultimate experience in food and hospitality, his own bed and breakfast.
Casa Maria Luigia is Massimo Bottura’s First Luxury Bed & Breakfast in Italy
Named for the Italian restaurateur’s mother, Casa maria Luigia is a luxurious country inn by Massimo Bottura in the countryside of Emilia, Italy. Located just 20 minutes away from the bed and breakfast is Bottura’s 12-table destination restaurant, Osteria Francescana, ranks number one on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List for 2018 (and 2016), and placed number two in 2017, behind Eleven Madison Park in New York.
Bottura and his wife, Lara Gilmore, bought the 200-year-old estate spanning across 12 acres with 12 rooms at an auction and designed it to their taste. Housing contemporary art pieces from renowned artists and antiques collected by the couple, the inn is completed with swimming pool and tennis courts. According to WSJ. Magazine, the country estate was the setting for frequent “Gatsby–style soirées” at the turn of the century, and Bottura and Gilmore plan to entertain their guests in a luxurious space filled with artwork by artists like Matthew Barney, Tracey Emin, and Andy Warhol. Reflecting the couple’s taste, the inn took a year for Gilmore to renovate the inn from rags to riches with the help of her designer friends.
Apart from its aesthetics that guests are paying for, guests can be prepared to rooms will be stocked with snacks local to the region — chunks of Parmigiano Reggiano and half bottles of Lambrusco, or sparkling red wine, says WSJ. A common kitchen serving breakfast and light lunch and a guaranteed reservation at the 3 Michelin starred Osteria Francescana in Modena as well. Food connoisseur should be well-aware how difficult it is to make a reservation at the world’s best restaurant.
Bottura is not the only renowned chef who branched into the hotel industry. Japanese celeb chef Nobu Matsuhisa has his name under luxe properties across the globe, and many existing top restaurants are already part of a hotel or inn.
The post Casa Maria Luigia is Massimo Bottura’s First Luxury Bed & Breakfast in Italy appeared first on LUXUO.