RESTAURANT GERANIO. A JOURNEY IN THE CAPRESE CUISINE

The Geranio restaurant is a green oasis in a sea of history. This historic caprese local with views of the Faraglioni was named for her passion for flowers, and in particular for geraniums, by the former owner, Natalina Guarracino.

This energetic Caprese woman, who worked as a cook in the most luxurious villas of Marina Piccola, cared a lot for her colorful geraniums, a lush and colorful wave along the way that leads to the marble lions of Alfred Krupp and Villa Blaesus. In this villa, now Villa Krupp, the writer Maksim Gorky and his wife, the beautiful Russian actress Maria Andreeva, stayed for a long time. Together they organized a chess tournament that changed the course of history. In the kitchens of this historic villa, two local chefs, Angelino Settanni and Cataldo Aprea (called Cataldiello) delighted the beautiful Maria with caprese dishes that could soothe her nostalgia for the distant Russia. Many people claim that in those magical rooms, overlooking the Faraglioni, Cataldiello created the famous almond cake (torta caprese), trying to imitate a cake very dear to the famous actress.

Natalina’s husband, Costanzo Lembo, was a wine producer and cultivated with great skill the vines that extended from the Augustus Park to the slopes of the Castiglione, producing fine white and red wines of Greek and Augustan origin, that Costanzo bottled with loving care.

The hardworking couple, in the fifties decided to create in that place, kissed by the sun, a bowling green. After the long matches, they offered the many players the typical dishes of the ancient and tasty cuisine of Capri, and a glass of genuine wine from the cellars of Costanzo. In the seventies, the helm of the restaurant passed to his son Peppino who, modernized it, expanding its rich menu with the many dishes of Capri, where the gifts of the countryside and sea magically blend. The ancient flavors that remind us of our youth continue to be the prerogative of the restaurant Geranio, which, since 2006, is managed with skill by Lucio Gaeta,  assisted byhis father Antonio.

“My arrival at the restaurant was gradual, but it has turned into a great passion that involves me all year. The research and innovation of traditional cuisine are the philosophies of Lucio: “Me and my chef, Antonio Langella” adds Lucio “we develop or refine with small variations the classic dishes of the centuries-old island cuisine. Paccheri allo scoglio and ravioli alla caprese are the most appreciated by our loyal customers”. That air of genuine hospitality that you breathe in the halls and on the flowered terraces, are the rare values of this restaurant where more than the aesthetics of the dish there is a research for flavors.

Lucio and his partner Cristina, nephew of the famous chef Leonardo Gargiulo, aka Leone, want to give the customers the real joy of being at the table, to talk, smile and be happy. And then, when the rays of the capresemoon illuminate the Faraglioni while you sip a glass of wine, everything will become magic.