Cannavacciuolo leaves Novara. For months many have been wondering about the fate of the well-known bar and restaurant in Piazza Martiri in Novara, next to the Coccia Theatre, which had not raised its shutters since the Christmas period.
The first rumors in February
For a few months the citizens of Novara have continued to wonder about the fate of the restaurant opened in Novara in October 2015 by the well-known chef from Campania, soul of the multi-starred Villa Crespi in Orta, entrepreneur and television face. The shutters were closed, officially for the Christmas break, last December. But already between January and February it was clear to everyone that there was something else “underneath”.
“The ownership is evaluating a possible change in format or offer of the restaurant”: this was the official version that the group led by the chef had entrusted to its press office, but in Novara and more generally in the world of catering the news had caused a sensation.
That something was changing in the 600 square meter space located inside the Teatro Coccia space was understood when we learned of the farewell of the historic chef of the Bistrot, Vincenzo Manicone, a Michelin star, who after 12 years spent with Cannavacciuolo, 4 of which at Villa Crespi, left Novara to move to Tancredi in Sirmione sul Garda. But such a prolonged stop had left room for doubts and “gossip”.
The attack of the former mayor Giordano
In recent days, it was the former mayor of Novara who turned the spotlight back on those lowered shutters, entering the issue with a straight leg. Massimo Giordano via a post on social media:
“Silence has incomprehensibly fallen on a less than brilliant page of this city – writes Giordano – Place closed for months, lockout, dark corner and theater with “pive in the bag”. This thing is unacceptable especially for those who go on television to make programs for the relaunch of venues in difficulty….while your own is abandoned… Solidarity with the Theatre, with the Municipality of Novara who assert their reasons. Those who don’t love Novara should pack their bags… At least let the restaurateurs take care of it the plants that are dying…”
The press release: Cannavacciulo leaves Novara
A few days later, the official news that had been floating around the city and on social media for days arrived: the Novara experience of the well-known MasterChef judge ends after about 8 years.
“The months of closure of the restaurant – explain the chef and his wife and manager in a press note Cinzia Primatesta – have served us to examine every possibility, from the continuation of the work carried out in recent years to the evaluation of profound changes. We have finally decided to close the Cannavacciuolo Cafè & Bistrot in Novara, a piece of our history to which we will remain forever linked. We have grown alongside this project, as have the passionate kids who make our team great every day. Together with them we began to take a new direction for the Group, more focused on Hospitality and Retail development; an area that allows us to make our resources flourish, realizing their aspirations. Following these reasonings, we realized that the Cafè & Bistrot could no longer represent a space for constant growth, because it was not in line with our present, and we thought it was right to let it go to concentrate our energies on all the other projects. We thank Novara and the people of Novara for these years together, hoping that those who arrive after us can continue our work, focusing on quality and service.”
