Before the roar of engines took over the weekend, the starting grid at Monza played host to something entirely unexpected: a massive, white-draped dinner table stretching right down the tarmac.
Hosted by Barilla and cooked by Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura, the event dubbed 'La Tavolata' brought together drivers past and present, team members, journalists, and fans for an exquisite three-course meal during a rare moment of stillness at the Italian Grand Prix.
Stalls offering bruschetta, cured meat, cheese, champagne, and breadsticks surrounded the iconic five red lights under matching white and blue canopies, while a roaming four-piece band serenaded the crowd with Beatles classics alongside Italian favorites like Mambo Italiano and Sarà Perché Ti Amo.
The culinary centerpiece, however, was Bottura's menu, which began with Fusilloni Al Bronzo al pesto—a modern twist on Ligurian pesto featuring pea cream and toasted breadcrumbs. Addressing the diners, a visibly nervous Bottura admitted to feeling the pressure of preparing 35 kilos of pasta al dente for hundreds of people.
“I'm a little bit stressed because I'm thinking about 35 kilos of pasta that has to come out al dente at least—it's not easy and my hands are sweating,” Bottura conceded in his welcome speech. “I feel a little butterfly in my stomach, but okay, it’s part of the challenge so I'll do it.”
The feast continued with a main course playfully named 'Lap Two', featuring a limited edition pasta created by Barilla called Gran Ruote, designed with wheel-like spokes to catch a cacio e pepe sauce made from Parmigiano Reggiano and pepper. Dessert brought the night to a close with 'L’essenza del Sole Siciliano', a citrus, almond, caper, and coffee creation representing the power of the Sicilian sun.
Paolo Barilla, a former racer himself, tied the evening together by recalling his childhood memories in the grandstands watching Ferrari legends Clay Regazzoni and Niki Lauda, reminding the guests that while Sunday brings a fierce fight on track, sharing a meal is what brings the community together.
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