Somebody feed Phil in Modena, and we are that Somebody

12/03/2020 - Category: Eat

Phil Rosenthal Modena Caterina Schenetti gnocco fritto

It happened again.
This time in Modena.
This time on Netflix.
This time with Phil Rosenthal.
After the BBC episode with Rick Stein in Bologna, I ended up working for the Netflix show Somebody Feed Phil.

The episode in Northern Italy was shot in September 2017 and I was that somebody.
Join me behind the scenes?

Andrea, would you like to feed Phil?

I met Phil Rosenthal's happy blue eyes at the entrance of the Mercato Albinelli food market.

There he took a TV version of our Modena food tour.

Cheese and chicken, pasta and wine, smiles and gags.
Phil seemed like a kid at Disneyworld.

But here Micky Mouse has the face of Andrea, the master of aged Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and Daisy Duck is Marisa, an old pasta maker that prepares everyday handmade tortellini.

Phil Rosenthal Modena Caterina Schenetti Andrea — *Me with Phil and gnocco fritto*

Phil meets gnocco fritto

A local bar, the one with students reviewing their homework before a test. Or businessmen in a suit having a sandwich in a hurry during lunch break. A bar with uncomfortable metal chairs and a coffee machine always grumbling.

That's where I sat with Phil in front of the camera, to taste one of the most delicious breakfasts in Italy.

Gnocco fritto is a fried soft bread perfect to start your day in Modena.
You can have it for lunch and dinner with ham and cheese.
But also for breakfast, sipped inside a hot cappuccino.
It may sound weird, but it's not the strangest thing you taste during our food tours ;)

Phil looked surprised but didn't miss a bite of this unusual breakfast (we had it at 5 pm actually).

What did we get from this experience?
For sure we've learned 2 things about Phil Rosenthal.

1. He isn't only a great comedian, but also a fantastic person able to immediately bond with people, just with a smile.

2. I'm 100% sure he asked for a green salad for dinner, after such an intense food marathon.