From L’Aquila to Philadelphia….. April 6 2009 : The original Gran
Caffe L’Aquila is destroyed in a Tragic Earthquake which destroyed
the entire city of L’Aquila December 24 2014 : One of Italy’s most
beloved landmark Caffe’s is resurrected in Philadelphia The
original Gran Caffé L’Aquila was a landmark caffe located on the
beautiful main square of L’Aquila, the capital of the Abruzzo
region.
...
Amongst other accolades, the Gran Caffe won the “Bar d”Italia 2007”
award, naming it the top bar in Italy. It owed its success to
several key factors: coffee roasted on premises by an award winning
roaster & Italian coffee ambassador as well as spectacular Italian
cocktails by him & his staff, & gelato by the future Gelato
Champion of Italy Stefano Biasini, delicious Abruzzo small plates,
and an elegant modern Italian design. When tragedy struck L’Aquila
on April 6th 2009, the Gran Caffe L’Aquila, along with most of the
city of L’Aquila, was destroyed by a devastating earthquake. The
main square and most of the city were left in uninhabitable ruins.
Spirit intact, Biasini quickly built a temporary outpost of the
Gran Caffe on the periphery of the city as they waited for the
landmark Piazza location to be repaired. It was at this temporary
location where, two years later, he met Italian-American
restaurateur Riccardo Longo. Longo was on a 52-city gastronomy and
wine tour when he fortuitously bumped into Biasini. Longo could not
believe that after touring the twenty regions of Italy, he had
found the best gelato and coffee in Italy under one roof. After
meeting with them to discuss their common passion for Italian
culinary excellence, an immediate friendship was born. Biasini
visited Longo several times and fell in love with the city of
Philadelphia. During these visits an idea soon bloomed between them
to bring their gifts together to reincarnate the Gran Caffe
L’Aquila in Center City Philadelphia. The concept would be to bring
a true Italian Caffe to the city of Philadelphia, complete with
authentic cuisine, world class coffee, award winning gelato, as
well as classic Italian cocktails, wines, and an Italian cultural
school to expound Italian culinary & wine culture. While they
discussed the project and began initial planning, Biasini continued
to accrue accolades. In January 2012, Stefano Biasini won the
prestigious “Gelato d’oro” competition and became the Gelato
Champion of Italy by defeating the top gelato makers of Italy. One
year later, as Captain of the Italian National Dessert Culinary
Team, Biasini won the International Press World Championship and
Gold medal for Best Gastronomic Gelato. In addition to those, he
had already been established as one of Italy’s premier micro coffee
roasters and an Ambassador of Italian coffee to the G8. After an
incredible amount of planning and effort, their vision was realized
in December 2014; the Gran Caffe L’Aquila had been reborn. In order
to ensure its authenticity, each element of the restaurant was
designed & hand-built in Italy by Italian Artisans and then shipped
to the United States. The Italian craftsmanship is evident in every
detail, ranging from the handmade tables and chairs to the
custom-built walls, library, & labs. Even the Italian gelato &
coffee roasting equipment has been imported to ensure an authentic
Italian flavor. The Ground floor is a modern Italian “bar.” Italian
espresso & pastries are featured in the morning, while paninis and
small plates are available in the afternoon. When the lights go
down in the evening, the space evolves into an Italian restaurant &
wine bar. Wines by the glass from all 20 regions of Italy, Assaggi
(tapas), Italian craft beer and classic cocktails all combine to
create an authentic Italian experience. The second floor features a
full-service Lunch and Dinner restaurant and bar with PLENTY of
space for group events. Each week Riccardo Longo will be inviting
all guests to accompany him on his travels through the 20 regions
of Italy by recreating the recipes he has gathered from sources
ranging from top chefs to knowledgeable Nonnas (grandmothers). Wine
pairing for each city have been personally selected by Longo
(11-time wine spectator award winner) based on years of travel &
“research” throughout the Italian Peninsula. This weekly menu will
also include an additional signature gastronomic gelato dish
innovated by Chef Biasini featuring the signature ingredients of
that week’s destination. The Mission of Gran Caffe L’Aquila is to
delight our guests beyond their expectations through our collective
passion for authentic Italian culinary excellence. Over the course
of the next year, you will have the opportunity to learn about 52
different Italian cities. You will learn about the delicious
cuisine, fine wine and culture of each city. We expect that you
will take your education seriously and passionately. You will be
ambassadors of Italian culture to all our customers, and we hope
you will help all of us at the Gran Caffe L’Aquila share our
passion with the city of Philadelphia
