"Not many chefs working in small, family-run restaurants expect global megastars to turn up for dinner and to design them a menu from scratch. But that's what happened to Simona Di Dio last weekend, when she cooked dishes inspired by her Italian grandmother's recipes for Madonna, who sat on the single wooden dining table in their cosy, candlelit Italian restaurant in Margate's old town."
"It was really informal and really lovely, and relaxed. It was really special and she was really nice, said Di Dio. She said it was mind-blowing to think that she would one day cook her richly flavoured bean and kale stew or an unusual Neapolitan beef shin pasta for one of the world's most famous musicians, though she acknowledged: Margate is always full of opportunities."
"While the Ryders recognised Madonna's depiction of Margate as filled with artists, musicians and performers vocations shared by many of their staff members they felt that it was important not to idealise the town, which has a sharp social and economic divide. Noting that the town has some of the most deprived postcodes in the UK, Harry said: It's not all rosy. She didn't see it all, she saw the art scene. Obviously there is a lot more to it. But he added that although the influx of wealthier people and DFLs (Down From Londons) has been much maligned, lots of newer arrivals do want to contribute to the area."
Madonna visited Cantina Caruso in Margate and was served dishes inspired by the chef's Italian grandmother's recipes. The meal was informal and relaxed, and the chef described the experience as mind-blowing. The visit formed part of an event organised by Tracey Emin, and Madonna praised Margate on Instagram as heaven energised by creativity. Simona Di Dio and her partner moved to Margate after being priced out of London and Canterbury and have watched the town change. The Ryders caution against idealising Margate because significant social and economic divides and deprived postcodes remain, even as newcomers aim to contribute.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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