30-11-21
Inside the home of Antonino Porpiglia, chef at home.
At his place, we cook from morning to night. From fresh orange juice to the family dish, for which it was necessary to stir for hours on low heat. It must be said that Antonino has it in his DNA: he is a home chef. In private homes and businesses, he stages gourmet dishes. He tells us about his relationship with this room that is so important to the French: the kitchen.
We always start our interviews by asking our interlocutors to briefly introduce themselves. Antonino, could you tell us a little about yourself?
I am an independent chef. I work with a private network, only by word of mouth and reputation. At lunchtime, I go to management clubs and company restaurants in Paris. In the evening, I cook at private homes or for events, especially in cultural places. What these two worlds have in common is a 100% gastronomic cuisine, often with the means at my disposal. This means that I have to improvise a lot and I love that! Sometimes, when I am presented with ingredients, I wonder what I am going to do with them… And then, with imagination, creativity, you always end up creating a quality plate, worthy of a star! It’s always a bit magical.
“My kitchen, my love.”
And your own kitchen, how would you describe it?
It is spacious and open to the living room, with a large work surface that goes all the way around the kitchen. I spend all my time here, I entertain a lot and I make a point of cooking good things for my children! It is made of a mix of modern and old elements, wood, wrought iron. I am originally from Italy, from Calabria to be precise. From these origins, I have a rather raw relationship with things. I love authenticity, nature, family. But I am also a fan of modernity. So my kitchen has a mauve, purple color.
What is the kitchen that has impressed you the most?
The one of a family who lived on avenue Foch, in the 16th district. I had never seen such a hi-tech room before! With plugs everywhere, a hood coming out of the worktop. It was very impressive and matched the apartment, which was just as beautiful and well laid out as the kitchen.
Is it difficult to work in people’s kitchens, a place that is so intimate, where we spend time with our families?
No, not really, except for the fact that you have to adapt very quickly to different material, to places configured in a specific way each time. But that’s exactly what’s interesting, that’s what gives me a boost! The only thing you have to pay attention to is to take good care of the space you are borrowing, because we often work in very beautiful places. Often, I come an hour and a half beforehand, to observe the place and adapt myself as well as possible. And finally, I believe that what people like in this service is to receive friends, family, around a real chef, who makes a little show.
For you, what is the French way of life? And the Italian way?
In France, this represents so many things: I would say that it is to be cultivated, to stroll, to eat, to go to the restaurant. We are a country of celebration, which likes to enjoy and share. In Italy, a border country, we have many of these values in common. But I would say that the art of living is more about a warm welcome.
What is your favorite piece? And why?
The kitchen of course! And my living room, very close. In my family, we are always cooking… My wife, my mother, my relatives in Italy, who prepare their own tomato sauce with the products they grow on their land, which is certified as agri-tourism. I am very rigorous with the food for my children. We despise the impact that this has, but I find it essential to make sure that I prepare things with my own hands, even if it takes time. And it’s important for me to transmit this love of conviviality.
“You must never forget your origins.”
How does your interior reflect your personality?
The authenticity of materials, the warmth of wood. We must never forget our origins: it is this value that I find in our furniture as in our vision of life.
- What is the property of your dreams? A modern apartment, a house is too much maintenance! And in Switzerland, because it is a beautiful country and very pleasant to live in.
- Which city has seduced you the most in terms of architecture, and why? Paris and Rome, my two influences. All these ancient monuments… Sometimes you wonder how such marvels were built at the time!
- What advice would you give to someone looking for a property? First of all, choose the place you want to live, that’s the most important thing. Inside, you can always change everything. Location matters so much.
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