Bacco Chef Calls on Detroit Restaurants to Make Italian Dish for Earthquake Fundraiser

One of metro Detroit’s most ardent and prolific ambassadors of Italian cuisine is now calling on local eateries for help. In a Facebook post today, chef Luciano DelSignore of Bacco Ristorante in Southfield and Bigalora launched an effort to raise money for victims of central Italy’s deadly earthquake with a classic regional pasta dish, Spaghetti all’Amatriciana.

Typically made with guanciale, chile, flakes, yellow onion, pecorino romano, pepper, tomatoes, and olive oil, the recipe for Spaghetti all’Amatriciana was first developed in Amatrice — located at the epicenter of Wednesday’s quake. Every year in August, the town hosts a festival to celebrate the dish. This year would have marked its 50th anniversary. DelSignore writes:

I’m calling on area chefs to join me, Chef Anthony Lombardo, and our restaurants in putting this dish on your menu during the month of September, offer it for $15, and then collectively donate 100% of sales of each order to a fund that will benefit the city and surrounding area.

The chef is currently researching charitable organizations for the fundraiser. He hopes to raise approximately $50,000 towards the cause. So far, several area chefs have signed on to support the charitable project including Nick Rogers and James Rigato of The Root, Omar Anani of The Twisted Mitten food truck, and more.

Chef Luciano isn’t the only person in the restaurant community serving pasta to aid earthquake efforts. NPR reports that numerous restaurants and food companies across the country are rallying around the town of Amatrice.

• Food World Rallies For Quake-Hit Amatrice, Home Of Famous Pasta Dish [NPR]

• All Bacco Coverage [ED]