Rosarita Crisafi
In the heart of Milan, precisely in Piazza Duomo, Autogrill opened Mercato del Duomo, a space which combines a market based upon corners directly managed by artisans, restaurants, cafés, and more. It is the new temple of taste in the heart of the city. This flagship store includes Italian food excellences, art and sustainability, and aims at enhancing the symbolical space ‘Galleria Vittorio Emanuele’ with a respectful and valuable presence. The top management of the company state: ‘It is a real challenge for the future’. The architectural design is supervised by architect Michele De Lucchi and develops along a vertical path of 4 floors and 5,000 square metres, dominated by the secular olive carried out by artist Adam Lowe, in which Motta Coffee Bar, Il Mercato, Bistrot Milano Duomo, Terrazza Aperol inaugurated in 2012 meet, and, on the third floor, there is ‘Spazio Milano’, the restaurant that will open in the coming months. On the mezzanine floor there is Kartell shop, with a selection of iconic objects of this brand.
The offer proposed by each floor
The first floor is dedicated to local artisans’ market, chosen in collaboration with the University of Gastronomic Sciences Pollenzo. So, the pastry is ‘C’era una torta (Once upon a cake)...’ of Seregno, the bakery is ‘Grazioli’ of Legnano, the delicatessen ‘Gastronomia Falcone’ of Verzuolo (Cn), the cheeses ‘Sogni di Latte (Dreams of Milk)’ of Vomero and Dairy ‘La Casearia di Camalò’ by Antonio Carpanedo of Povegliano (TV), the butcher’s ‘La Macelleria Piemontese’ by Gavazza Brothers, and fruit and vegetables by Abbascià Brothers, an institution in Milan. Next to the market area, ‘Showcooking’ event space has been realized with an equipped kitchen, followed by Bistrot Milano Duomo – which was already inside the Central Station of the capital town of Lombardy- that here expands on two floors in thematic corners where it is possible to taste typical handmade products and other traditional specialties revised according to contemporary taste.
A visit to the Ovobar
This floor is completed by the presence of ‘Ovobar’ dedicated to eggs, that allows choosing a protein breakfast, ‘Frutteto (orchard)’ with fruits, vegetables and juices, ‘Il Forno (oven)’ with pizza and artisan bread baked on the premises, ‘Caffetteria (Café)’ which also offers the original Neapolitan coffee served at the table, ‘Pastaio (Pasta maker)’, ‘Street Food’ and much more, with an offer of artisan beers.
Soon on board Niko Romito
On the third floor the restaurant-workshop 'Spazio (Space)' will soon open. It is managed by the celebrity chef Niko Romito, while on the mezzanine floor, in the direction of the exit, ‘Kartell shop’ with a selection of objects characterized by its iconic design was prepared. Another new proposal is the presence on social networks of this store: all news is published in advance on @ilmercatodelduomo twitter profile.
