#252 Andrea Rigodanza | Gnocchi By Rigo

Andrea Rigodanza is an Italian chef from Vicenza where he learnt how to cook in his family's restaurant. After a short apprenticeship in a 3 Michelin restaurant, he decided to move to Sydney and eventually on to Melbourne. Andrea has been in Australia for more than 8 years and last year decided to start his own business making handmade gnocchi for restaurants around Victoria. Initially he did this as well as working full time as an Executive chef in a private restaurant in the city but a couple of months ago, he left this role to focus on Gnocchi by Rigo. He makes potato gnocchi, spinach gnocchi, gluten free gnocchi and he also plays around with some specials like spinach, beetroot or pumpkin gnocchi. He also gives monthly cooking classes and various pop-up events. Andrea and I met at Sani in Brunswick one of the restaurants cooking his gnocchi. We shared a gnocchi with osso bucco, which was delicious, and talked about Andrea’s journey, the history of gnocchi as well as what’s going on with tinned tomatoes and olive oil right now. I also crowbarred in a reference to The Bear. It was so lovely to meet Andrea and hear his story.