A blend of flavors found at a hidden treasure located off the main corso in Benevento.
Restaurant: Teresa Paparella – Benevento, Italy
What I ate: Ravioli Ripieni Patate e Baccalà
Although boiled like the Italian ravioli, these were actually Japanese-style gyoza – which Italians call ravioli giapponesi.
These Japanese ravioli were made fresh, in house using in season and local ingredients. They were filled with baccalà and potato – ingredients typical to Napoli and the Campagna region – and the blend of the different cuisines worked very well.
The ravioli were served in a flavorful mirin soy based broth that included chives and finely chopped hazelnuts added later. The combination was an absolute adventure in flavors and texture. This dish was high in umami – from its delectable broth to the ravioli/gyoza floating within.
The owner/chef explained that the broth was his concoction – allowing it to simmer all day. And shared that the addition of the finely chopped local hazelnuts was another way to honor the season and his region.
We finished our meal with a slice of their house made pastiera – a classic easter pie of Napoli made with ricotta and wheat grain – and a shot of the owner’s homemade limoncello.
The restaurant
Teresa Paparella
Vico I S. Vittorino, 18 – 82100 Benevento BN Italy
Website: www.teresapaparella.it
The owner/chef is a retired electrician with a passion for food and cooking. He opened this quaint and gorgeously designed eatery with his daughter and named it in honor of his late wife Teresa.
The aesthetic of the restaurant was intimate and class with a burst of modern quirk. Ideal for a romantic date. The deep tones of red, yellow, blue and brown blended so beautifully with the oak wood trim and metal accents. The exposed brick ceiling was accentuated by an brown iron chandelier that resembled a star burst stretching out to the length of the space. The brown and beige walls were adorned with paintings and assorted sculptures of modern cornicelli – the Napoletan symbol to repel bad omens.
Just off the main corso in Benevento – located on a narrow street paved in large stones – you will find Teresa Paparella sitting cozy next to a convent housed in a modern white building with a very tall narrow metal door. The owner and his staff were kind, attentive and very simpatico.
We discovered this hidden gem via a random search online as we strolled the main corso in Benevento – and it was marvelous treasure worth the hunt.