Sopra, uno scorcio della riseria Melotti A lato, la semina del riso in un momento di attivitĂ didattica presso la riseria
Melotti, a rice-based cuisine Thirty years ago the Melotti family, farmers for generations, decided to specialize in the cultivation of Vialone Nano and Carnaroli rice. It was a natural choice, since they were in Verona, an area known for its centuries-old rice-growing traditions. What Giuseppe, his wife Rosa and their children Luca, Gianmaria and Francesca did not and could not know was that years later, they would end up cooking risotto in the East Village, in New York, getting rave reviews from their American clientele. What took them overseas was their outright dedication to the white cereal. The family has always been involved in every stage of rice production: from cultivation to sale, using traditional processing methods without any kind of chemical intervention or manipulation. Every spring, the Melottis prepare the land and plant their rice, before skilfully re-
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gulating the alternation of flooding and draining of the fields in order to create the best conditions for growth. Over time, the company has made a name for itself on the domestic and international markets by distributing its rice through various outlets, restaurants, hotels, shops and delis in Italy and abroad. Subsequently it opened two risotterias ( the first in Isola della Scala in Verona and then another in New York). All the dishes on the menu are rice based and are also designed for celiac sufferers: from appetizers (rice pies and rice polenta) to risottos of all types (seasoned with fish, meat, vegetables) without forgetting exotic flavours like sushi and, to end with, delicious desserts. And to drink there is an excellent rice beer, as well as rice liqueurs and grappa, not to mention espresso rice coffee. Well worth a try! GIUGNO 2016