Eat, drink, disco: the founders of Cibo reunite for Fringe
The founders of Cibo, Roberto Cardone and Salvatore Pepe, are reuniting to create a fun dining experience as part of the Fringe, writes Jessica Galletly.
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The founding fathers of Cibo, Roberto Cardone and Salvatore Pepe, are reuniting to cook the Italian food they know best at this year’s Adelaide Fringe.
They’ll transform the Cloisters area of the University of Adelaide into Roberta’s Italian Disco Diner – a “piazza party” of food, wine and live entertainment.
It’s the first time the pair will be cooking together as part of the RCC 2020’s festival program.
“It’s been an absolute dream to be working alongside Salvatore Pepe again,” says Roberto, who founded Roberta’s Italian last year.
“We’re back to doing what we do best … authentic Italian food and having fun while doing just that.”
Salvatore and Roberto, together with Angelo Inglese and Claudio Ferraro, founded Cibo Ristorante in Adelaide in 1996, which spawned a collection of Cibo Espresso stores.
The business was sold in 2012.
Diners can now rekindle their love for the pair’s cooking, which is inspired by southern Italian fare. Dishes will include melanzane (eggplant) parmigiana, paccheri al ragu (large tube pasta with slow-cooked beef ragu, pictured) and taglierini al granchio (egg pasta tossed with blue swimmer crab).
The space will also include an enoteca – a walk-in cellar offering a range of Italian wines – and a salumeria.
There’ll be cocktails, too.
The venue boasts a capacity of 150 people.
“The Cloisters area is beautiful, it reminded me of walking through the porticoes in Bologna,” Roberto says of the venue.
“It made sense to set up Roberta’s here, and take advantage of the entire space, giving patrons the opportunity to enjoy a dish or two or three, have a drink and dance.”
For the first time, revellers can reserve a seat through online booking system Open Table – but payments on the night will have to be made by card, as it’s a cashless venue.
February 14-March 15, Tue-Fri 5pm-late, The University of Adelaide, Gate 10, Victoria Drive, city