In a tradition called The Piatti del Buon Ricordo, or “Plates of Good Memories,” which dates back to 1964, diners can enjoy a meal and take the plate it was served on home as a souvenir. Plates often carry the best memories, those of good food and good times. But you always have to leave them on the table as you move ahead in search of the next best dish and company. In Italy, things are done a bit differently.
Since 1985, Milanese graphic designer Paolo Argenton has designed the pieces. On eBay, bidding for a plate can start at 3 euros and reach more than 150 euros, and home enthusiasts can find the ceramics in places as diverse as major design fairs like the Maison et Objet in Paris to stores like ABC Carpet and Home in New York City.
It’s not just a place to eat but also a place for tradition and memorable encounters—all of which are deeply rooted in our history,” said Alberto Cauzzi, food editor for Forbes Italia, as per a report by Smithsonian magazine. “Dine in a trattoria, order and enjoy a regional dish, and take home the handmade ceramic plate at the end of your meal,” said Carbone, who also owns Trattoria Manuelina in Recco, a member restaurant. The idea was conceived to “promote, and defend rigorously, Italian cuisine,” Carbone explained. “Each restaurant chooses its signature dish, which is then illustrated by Argenton with other elements depicting the city or town in which it is located,” Carbone explained. Villani could be regarded as an influencer of his era, said Michelin-starred chef Davide Scabin of Carignano in Turin, Italy. “At the time, Italy itself was still somewhat exotic as a travel destination for Italians, and going from north to south and tasting ingredients never before encountered was a genuine discovery,” he said.
“The Italian trattoria is one of the symbols of our people’s culture and tradition. but few know about a custom called Piatti del Buon Ricordo that was conceived in the 1960s to promote trattorias nationally and worldwide While many travellers and foodies have enjoyed a meal at a trattoria. The phrase means “plates of good memories. In participating trattorias, diners who order the signature dish can take their plate, a hand-painted ceramic collectable, home as a souvenir. “It was the years of the economic boom, and restaurant customers were eager to embrace new lifestyles. They were more attracted to international models than to the authentic values of traditional Italian gastronomy, which was in danger of disappearing from restaurant tables,” added Cesare Carbone, president of the Buon Ricordo Restaurant Union, the official governing body championing the concept for more than half a century. Wanting to keep Italian cuisine at the forefront, Villani gave diners an incentive. The hands behind the plates are those of artisans of Ceramiche Artistiche Solimene, a family-run business in the Amalfi Coast’s Vietri sul Mare that is known for its ceramicists. They have always hand-painted the plates, made from raw clay from the quarries of Ogliara. “The plate is given to those who choose the Buon Ricordo menu, so they can take home a ‘good memory’ of an unforgettable tasting experience. Buon Ricardo still remains on the table. There is even an association for collectors.