#383 Andrea Vignali | Al Dente Enoteca

Stepping off Nicholson Street into Al Dente Enoteca, I was immediately taken with the exposed brick, the wall of wine and the rare quiet of a restaurant between services. Andrea calls this stretch Melbourne’s “Italian Golden Mile”, with neighbours Scopri and Bar Olo helping make it a very good street to be hungry on. He is funny, candid and full of stories. Al Dente began with pasta sold through Instagram during lockdown, when staying in Australia meant finding a way to support himself and others in the same position. Six years on, he still gets his greatest pleasure from cooking for people, although there is plenty competing for his time. Our conversation took us from his grandfather’s pub to the cacio e pepe tucked inside his tortelloni, with a rather frantic search for kangaroo in Rome along the way. This was such a great chat. I can't wait for you to listen.