For this month's instalment of From the Kitchen, we heard from Massimo Bellavista: owner of twin family-owned Sicilian restaurants Compa.
When did you first know you wanted to make food for a living?
Food has always been part of my life and my family. Growing up in Sicily, every celebration happened around the table, and I realised I wanted to share that warmth and sense of belonging with others through authentic Sicilian food.
Who has been the biggest influence on your cooking?
Without a doubt, my grandmother. She taught me that the best recipes are made with love, patience and respect for tradition. Many of the flavours we serve at Compà are inspired by the memories I have of cooking with her.
Describe your venue in three words
Authentic. Sicilian. Welcoming.
What’s the best-selling item on your menu?
Our Cannoli are our signature best-seller. Filled to order with fresh ricotta and the finest ingredients imported from Sicily, including our rich pistachio cream, they perfectly capture the authentic flavours of the island.
What’s your personal favourite item on your current menu and why?
Our Porchetta. It’s full of flavour, beautifully seasoned and slow-cooked to perfection. For me, it’s the perfect combination of simplicity, quality and comfort.
What/where was the best meal you have ever eaten? And who cooked it?
The best meal I’ve ever eaten was my wife’s lasagna, cooked at home. It combines incredible flavour with the warmth and comfort that only a home-cooked family meal can bring.
Who are your five ideal dinner guests, alive or dead? And what’s on the menu?
I’d invite my grandmother, Anthony Bourdain, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Sophia Loren and Leonardo da Vinci. We’d serve a Sicilian feast with traditional street food, fresh pasta with Sicilian sausage ragù, meatballs, cannoli and plenty of great Sicilian wine.
Find Compa at 21/A Heathcoat Street, NG1 3AF, and their Beeston joint at 31 Wollaton Road NG9 2NG.
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