Fortezza Medicea restaurant (officially Cene Galeotte, 'convict dinners') is an occasional restaurant in Volterra, Italy. Gourmet dinners are cooked and served to paying guests by inmates in the prison housed in the town's Renaissance-era fortress (Fortezza Medicea, lit. 'Medician fortress'). The project began in 2006; it has been on hiatus since 2020.
The fortress, built in 1474, is a high-security prison for criminals serving at least seven years.[1] In 2006, the prison administration instituted the occasional dinners as a rehabilitation scheme.[2][3] Inmates selected for their good behaviour[1] prepare a multi-course dinner and serve it at the prison.[3] Proceeds are donated to charity.[3][4] In the inaugural season, the chef was also an inmate, serving a life term;[5] in subsequent years, invited guest chefs have presided.[3][6] Guests must apply at least two weeks in advance, undergo a background check, and on arrival show identification and be assigned a registration number;[1] cutlery is plastic.[5][6]
The dinners proved popular and sell out weeks in advance.[1][5] On release, several inmates have found restaurant jobs.[3][4] The restaurant operates part-year, one day a month, serving a six-course meal in the former chapel[4][5][6] or a courtyard.[1][3] In September 2007, a seven-course medieval feast was served by inmates in period costume.[1] Operations were suspended in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Orth, Stephan (10 September 2007). "Gefängnis Volterra: Zu Gast bei Ganoven". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ Gumuchian, Marie-Louise (20 May 2008). "Guests give top marks to Italian gourmet jail". Reuters. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Santini, Bruno (June 2014). "Cena galeotta 20 giugno 2014 Fortezza Medicea Carcere di Volterra" (video, segment begins at 2:43) (in Italian). Informatore TV. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Inside the popular Italian restaurant serving up high-end cuisine behind bars". CBS News. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d Pisa, Nick (20 May 2007). "'They made me a pasta I couldn't refuse'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d Cuneo, Cinzia (29 November 2021) [3 June 2013]. "Fine dining at maximum security in Toscany". SOSCuisine. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
External links
edit- Official website (archived on 20 February 2020) (in Italian)
- 2019–2020 programme of dinners (archived on 20 January 2022) (in Italian)
- Dinner Behind Bars, Volterra, Toscana