Osteria Francescana Re-opens with a menu inspired by The Beatles

After almost three months of closure, Massimo Bottura's three-Michelin-star restaurant Osteria Francescana, in Modena, Italy, reopened on 2 June.

The world-renowned fine dining restaurant, repeatedly on the podium of the World's 50 Best Restaurants, is back, in whimsical and creative style, with a new menu entitled 'With a Little Help From My Friends', inspired by The Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

The courses recall popular songs from the album, with names like 'A Day in the Life' and 'Yellow Submarine' (turbot and potatoes with pineapple, daikon and edible flowers). (see dishes below)

Bottura says the dishes were born during lockdown, when the chef asked his staff to prepare recipes at home, inspired by the album in question. So, once everyone got back to the stove, the tasting tests began in order to select the twelve recipes that entered the tasting course.

Reflecting the musical theme, and the 'butterflies' that the chef and the team felt on the first day of reopening, coloured butterflies have 'settled' not only on the dishes in the form of pickles or vegetables from the garden, but throughout Osteria Francescana itself.

In the restaurant, butterflies can be found everywhere: from the artist Damien Hirst's paintings (next to the three works of art, including Takashi Murakami's famous flowers) to the Gucci armchairs.

Meanwhile, on 7 June, chef Bottura also reopened Casa Maria Luigia, a luxurious 18th-century country house-turned-hotel, with a park divided by a vegetable garden and open-air sculptures.

Guests are invited to spend Sundays in these lush green grounds, enjoying a new brunch with a name that reflects the programme: Tòla Dòlza, which in Modena dialect means 'relax'.

Chef Jessica Rosval and team have prepared a series of recipes dedicated to the summer season and cooking in a wood oven.

The menu, which is to be consumed with due care and attention, includes freshly picked vegetables, eel and sweet onion omelette, veal and wildflowers and classic cotechino served with sbrisolona almond cake, eggnog and balsamic vinegar.

Expect more live music and summer cocktails.