New prestigious recognition for the Messina bakery chef Francesco Arena which gains a prominent place in the new Identità Golose Guide dedicated to Pizzerias and Signature Cocktail Bars, presented this morning at the Fondazione Cariplo conference center in Milan. The Guide edited by Carlo Passera and Claudia Orlandi reviews 655 addresses in all Italian regions and reviews each sign offering lots of useful information. The Panificio Francesco Arena, an excellence from Messina, although not a pizzeria, occupies a special role due to its offer of pizzas in the pan, on the shovel and focaccia. The doughs are prepared with sourdough, ancient Sicilian grain flours, evolutionary flours, burnt wheat flours, einkorn flour, etc. they have risen and matured slowly, without haste, to ensure authenticity and digestibility. Every day you can choose up to fifty different types of baked goods. The selection of local ingredients used for the toppings is also excellent. Great satisfaction was expressed by Francesco Arena who, although unable to be present at the awards ceremony in Milan due to work commitments, wanted to thank the curators and commented as follows: “I am very happy with this prestigious recognition. It is a great satisfaction to also be present in the Identità Golose Guide, since its first edition. Thanks go to the curators, the journalists who wrote the guide, and above all to my staff who, every day, allow me to make a difference on the market. Gambero Rosso, 50 Top Italy and now also Identità Golose give us more and more motivation and determination to do our job well”.
THE GUIDE’S REVIEW
“For Francesco Arena, water and flour flow through his veins. Every dough, for him, is the result of careful research and experimentation which is then transformed into the delicacies that can be found at the counter of his beautiful shop in the center of Messina. Pizzas, focaccias and scacciate are among its best sellers which can be taken away or consumed at one of the tables outside, overlooking Via Tommaso Cannizzaro. Every month, Arena includes a new product on the menu, born from local ingredients mixed with care and competence” – we read in the Guide.