La Tonnarella
La Tonnarella

A collection of houses that climb up the Amalfi Coast cliffs, a suggestive and unique bay that, like a theatre, opens towards the sea between an ancient saracen tower and a peninsula on which lies the villa that was once the home Sofia Loren. It’s the ancient sea village of Conca Dei Marini, a tourist destination of people from all around the world and also the location of one of the most famous and renowned restaurants of the Amalfi Coast, the  undisputed temple of vip and famous people.

LA TONNARELLA

The restaurant began at the end of the nineteen sixties thanks to the wise transformation of a small apartment used to contain the tonnara (from which it gets its name), a particular net that was used until 1965 to fish tunas in the area, the first owner was the entrepreneur Umberto Lauritano, better known as :”O’Bacchiss “, descendent of ancient sailors.During these times the beach of Conca Dei Marini was never that busy; only few umbrellas and some old fisherman’s boats could be seen. Then the fame and the “boom” arrived.

The list of the famous people who have frequented the splendid “Tonnarella” is long and all the customers have been delighted over years with a typical marine gastronomy that reaches its climax with the famous “Spaghetti e zucchine” and the masterly “pezzogna all’aqua pazza”.

Some appearances to highlight of distinguished people are the following: the first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Margaret Countess of Snowdon , guest of the d’Urso family the owners of a villa a few footsteps away from the beach, the shipowner Onassis, Caroline Princess of Hanover, who wanted to baptise her daughter on the beach in the little church of the Madonna della Neve.

Today the restaurant is run with skill and passion by the two sons of the historical owner Umberto Lauritano, Angelo, a talented chef that is always available, and Franco, considerate and polite who handles PR.

Each one of them protect rigorously and with passion the reputation and success of a restaurant that is as prestigious as it is original and addictive.

 

The spaghetti “Jacqueline” style
The spaghetti “Jacqueline” style

THE “TONNARELLA” RESTAURANT AND THE SPAGHETTI “JACQUELINE” STYLE

It was the summer of 1962. Jacqueline Kennedy with her sister, Princess Lee Radzwill, and her children Caroline and John Jr, had just arrived in Ravello to spend there the “ most beautiful vacation of her life “ as she liked to say. She chose to stay at Villa Episcopio, amaizingly placed in a high position, overlooking the blue scenery of the Tyrrhenian Sea, where the gulfs of Salerno and Naples seem to cross and mingle and the view stretches from Cape Palinuro to the famous “Faraglioni” of Capri. Villa Episcopio was the home of a bishop in the fourteenth century, and later summer residence of the Duke of Sangro. In 1945, during the Government of Salerno, it had been hospitable home for King Vittorio Emanuele and Queen Elena.

The First Lady used to go to Amalfi every morning, carried by a “Giardinetta” (open station wagon) provided by the famous lawyer Gianni Agnelli; once in Amalfi, she enjoyed a delicious “Sfogliatella Santa Rosa”, a sweet creation of the nuns of the homonymous monastery of Conca dei Marini, and a cold coffee, before visiting the shops of the city centre and admiring the brightly colored clothes and the high-quality local pottery.

Later, accompanied by few service staff, and without any security ( there was some supervision, but it was discreet and invisible ), she was taken by a fast motorboat to the picturesque bay of Conca dei Marini where Alessandro D’Urso, a lawyer and a family friend, was waiting for her to welcome her in his wonderful villa just above the sea. After a short refreshment, he often used to take her to discover hidden ravines and catch sea urchins along the sinuous coast winding up to the Emerald Grotto, a true wonder of nature, with its myriads of different shaped stalactites and stalagmites arising from a sparkling emerald sea.

Back from these pleasant sea excursions, the First Lady, barefoof, enjoyed her daily sea bathing with her children Caroline and John John at the enchanting beach of Conca dei Marini where the owner of a little and rustic restaurant, decorated with fishing nets, cork and hanging pots, used to prepare a simple and delicious dish for her: spaghetti, or penne, with tender local courgettes, which she enjoyed eating very much.

That restaurant, now renovated and famous all over the coast: “ La Tonnarella ”, still serves spaghetti with courgettes and this dish is well known by everybody as “ Spaghetti Jacqueline Style”

Here is its recipe for 4 people:

Chop the onion in five tablespoons of olive oil together with 50 grams of lean bacon cut into small pieces. Stir-fry them together for one or two minutes and then add ½ a kilo of very tender courgettes, cut into little cubes, and a handful of chopped basil, salt as required, and a dash of black pepper (for those who like it).

Let everything cook slowly ( not more than 15-20 minutes as courgettes cook in a short time ). Separately, boil the spaghetti or penne and drain them “al dente”; dress the pasta with the prepared courgettes sauce. Put everything in the pan again and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and, if required, a knob of fresh butter. It is very important to stir all the ingredients over low heat!

The “Tonnarella” Restaurant wishes you a good meal!