“La Prova del Nove” is a new restaurant run by young people: to give concrete opportunities to young people to increase the food and wine Italy of tomorrow.
What is “La Prova del Nove”?
“La Prova del Nove” is the first restaurant–bet entirely run by students and former students of the Aurelio Saffi Hotel Institute.
The staff of “La Prova del Nove” consists of 3 chefs , 4 maitre and a dishwasher. The eight students, 28 years at most, are employed with permanent contract by the “La Prova del Nove” foundation, a direct offshoot of the Saffi Institute and supported by Bank Ifigest, Antinori, L’Uccellare and Mukki. “We also want to give an ethical message – Vagnoli adds ” with the decision to employ eight people with permanent contract and to avoid any form of ’black work’”.
Alongside the eight young professionals there will be nine new graduates of the Saffi Institute, who every year can learn to work in a high standard kitchen.
“An opportunity like this happens rarely to Italian students – the head teacher of the Saffi Institute, Valerio Vagnoli, explains – the specialization courses in great restaurants are very expensive and not accessible to everyone”.
More chance of learning will be given to the students who attend the fourth class at the Saffi Institute.
Who finances “La Prova del Nove”?
The foundation has decided to give credit to young people, bears the business risk and pays the rent of the restaurant. Further impetus to the activities and to young people is the fact that the proceeds of the restaurant go to fund scholarships.
For young trainees the “La Prova del Nove” restaurant will be an opportunity to familiarize with a business reality and to be ready for the job market.
It is a pilot project in the world of gastronomy that combines school and work. “Florence opens to a model that does not exist in Italy, but in the rest of the world has a lot of success” the owner of Number Nine, Barbara Moretti, comments.
Giving opportunities to young people
At the presentation of the restaurant the Undersecretary to the Ministry of Education, Gabriele Toccafondi, stated: “In 2008, there was a 20% of youth unemployment, today we have reached 41.5% – he says – this model of contamination between school and the world of work is an example to follow”. The owner of the hotel who gave space to “La Prova del Nove” added: “It is a great experiment – as the head teacher of the Saffi Institute, Valerio Vagnoli, said – for these young people who are united by passion for cooking, who will come out from here with consolidated skills that they can employ in the best Italian and international restaurants. We believe in them, so let’s give them a chance to prove what they can do”.
© RIPRODUZIONE RISERVATA
27/12/2013
