We like to think of Lavatoio Bistrot not just as a restaurant, or simply as a place to spend a pleasant evening.
We like to think of Lavatoio Bistrot as a 'destination'... first in values, then in experiences, and finally in food and location.
Yes, because that of the Lavatoio is a real route, and as such, every route has its destination, and like every destination, many stages of approach.
The Lavatoio Bistrot is located in Santarcangelo, right in the historic centre, in the area that the people of Santarcangelo call 'Al Lavatoio' because it identifies the part of the town where the municipal washhouse stood after the Second World War.
Little is left of that early 20th-century treasure; in its place now stands our restaurant and, next to it, the multi-purpose hall of the municipality of Santarcangelo. At the bistro is the last remaining washhouse, carved like so many from stone and now the only witness to a place that no longer exists.
The Lavatoio Bistrot is linked to Santarcangelo in a visceral way. But it does not express this through the classic claims of 'traditional cuisine', '0 km products' or 'cuisine linked to the territory', all too often used only as a lure to attract a clientele that is no longer even sensitive to 'restaurant' proselytes. Il Lavatoio expresses its link with the territory through a real idea, one that you can touch with your hand: the love with which every Romagnolo "does the things he does."
We love Romagna and we love the people of Romagna, and all those who, even if not from these latitudes, come to see us every night.
We love them concretely, and we take care of them, and the food we put on our plates.
The decision not to use 00 flour was a brave one, and certainly caused us quite a few organisational problems.
But it was the only way to express our value, the one in which people with us recognise themselves: to be consistent.
00 flour means poison and, although for the sake of convenience (and a pinch of misinformation) it is still very often denied, at the first ailment, the doctor takes us off 'flours'... 'unless they are wholemeal'.
Well, we don't need a doctor to take responsibility, and there are no other ways: no 00 flour, at Lavatoio we only use wholemeal flour, or type 1 or semolina or mixtures of other grains.
A beautiful value, and a great right, ours and everyone's, to really eat 'good things'!
Certainly to tagliatella purists this philosophy will turn their noses up at it, but this is the Lavatoio, these are the virtues we represent and share with those who think like us.
It is clear then how the Lavatoio Bistrot is not just a simple restaurant, but is transformed into a choice of values, linked to food, that goes beyond the composition of the dish.
Many people ask me:
"But what is the Lavatoio Bistro?"
It is difficult to answer this question, as there is so much inside the Lavatoio, and very often those who ask me what the Lavatoio is do not always have the patience and curiosity to listen to the whole answer. So, to explain myself, and to be fully understood, I like to answer by saying what the Lavatoio Bistro is not.
And in response I use these simple sentences:
We do not use 00 flour
We don't make noodles
We have no house wine
We do not make piadina
We are the Lavatoio Bistrot
Diversamente Romagnoli
Filippo Gullotta
Giorgio Biribanti
