Tortellante, Integration, Empowerment & Pasta

They are the founders of several life-changing, food-based non-profits.

And the Botturas have based one of them on the most delectable and traditional of Italian foods – tortellini.

Every town in Italian region of Emilia has its own jealously guarded tortellini recipes, but for Massimo and Lara, this mouthwatering pasta dish has been the secret to integrating young autistic people into the community and to preserving the rich heritage of traditional Italian cooking. The project is called Il Tortellante and it tastes good, does good and creates a better future from culinary heritage.

Il Tortellante – At the Heart of the Community

We spoke to Erika Coppelli, the President of Il Tortellante, to find out how the project works. 25 children on the autism spectrum and 40 volunteers come together to make fresh pasta by hand. The young people spend time at Il Tortellante several times a week; those still in school come in the afternoons while other older participants also attend in the mornings. They learn the old-age traditional art of tortellini making by hand from rezdôre.

Image credit: Kitchen Quarantine

The rezdôre are a group of women who are masters of the egg-pasta tradition and who share their generations-old recipes and skills with the youngsters to teach them a craft, boost their social inclusion and improve their autonomy.

Massimo Bottura has said that tortellini is the one food he would take to a desert island, so it’s no surprise that he’s chosen this culinary masterpiece as the centre of his new project. As Massimo says, “Chefs today are influencers and therefore they have a responsibility to help their communities grow and become more sustainable.” Like the Refettorios that Massimo Bottura has established around the world, this scheme’s aim is to empower individuals through food. And empowerment is not one way.

While the young people on the autism spectrum benefit from an environment designed to support them, the rezdôre also gain a great deal from the experience. Traditionally, the rezdôre are generally older women, who have tended to become isolated and may even fear that their hard-earned skills will die with them. Volunteering with Il Tortellante has given them a chance to share their knowledge & skills, a new exciting social life and a sense of being valued and deeply integrated into their community.

There’s a third group that benefits as well – those who eat the amazing tortellini produced at Il Tortellante. 

Empowering Autistic People & Preserving Traditional Skills

But Tortellante project is much more than just a cooking class – Erika says the young people “…experience weekends of autonomy, free time dedicated to socialization and integration. These are all skills that will then be used to break away from parents tomorrow and live together in apartment groups.” It’s a way of integrating autistic people in the community, giving them access to a professional world and developing the skills that will allow them to live successfully.

 Satopia is delighted to be able to support Il Tortellante. Through our Culinary Travel Experiences series, we provide an opportunity to spend time at Il Tortellante, discovering the powerful central themes that make this project so uplifting, and championing the ideals that underpin it, fighting food waste, integrating all individuals and empowering local communities to support themselves and each other. You can join Massimo Bottura in 2023 for a Hosted Experience in Modena, including a private dining experience at Osteria Francescana, dinner at Francescana as well as a masterclass with Massimo Bottura, while staying at Casa Luigia Maria. Find out more and join us in Modena to visit Il Tortellante for yourself!