Ep. 7 - Pasta With Pasta: Rewriting the Rules in Florence’s Food Scene: Matilde Pettini of Dalla Lola — Florence, Italy

In this heartfelt episode of Sapore, we sit down in the heart of Florence with fourth-generation chef and culinary visionary Matilde Pettini, the founder of Dalla Lola—a soulful, rebellious little restaurant tucked in the Oltrano neighborhood.Matilde is not just a chef—she’s a force of flavor, feeling, and fierce Florentine spirit. Born into a family legacy that includes the iconic Trattoria Cammillo, Matilde carved her own path by opening Dalla Lola at just 26 years old. What started as a study project quickly became a living, breathing culinary space that celebrates local life, shared tables, tiny rebellions, and the essence of Florence.In this conversation, we explore:How Matilde’s restaurant began as a feeling—rooted in memory and transformed into a space for community and connectionHer take on “project vs. restaurant” and why she keeps Dalla Lola affordable for localsFlorence’s over-tourism crisis, gentrification, and what it means to be a conscious travelerBuilding an intentional team and cultivating a space where joy, play, and deep care are centralPasta with pasta (yes, really) and how creative risk keeps the menu aliveHer dream for the future of hospitality: more women, more reverence, less egoNatural wine adventures and a soon-to-launch collaborative project with a beloved sommelierWhat it means to inherit a culinary legacy—and choose your own wayThis is a full-circle story of flavor, family, and feminine rebellion. If you’re craving something real and tender and wild—this one’s for you.Follow Matilde on Instagram: @matildepettiniFollow Dalla Lola at Instagram: @dalla_lolaPhoto courtesy of Nisa Sedaghat, Studio Sapore.THE SAPORE PODCASTThe Sapore Podcast is an invitation to explore the world richly through the senses. Rooted in the Italian word sapore—meaning “to savor” and “to taste”—each episode features soulful conversations with chefs, winemakers, artists, designers, and creatives from around the world.From intimate kitchens in Florence to late-night wine bars in Paris and sacred rituals in Marrakesh, Sapore explores and savors the rituals, memories, and places that connect us to a life well-traveled and well-lived.Follow along on Instagram:Studio Sapore: @studio.sapore Host Nisa Sedaghat: @nisssyyGet in touch:Email: [email protected] Online at: www.studiosapore.comThe podcast is produced by Nisa Sedaghat.