Procida is preparing to open in Marigny, New Orleans next month, giving chef Valeriano Chiella‘s popular Italian pop-up a permanent home.
The restaurant will open at 2000 Burgundy Street where Chiella will bring a menu inspired by the flavors and traditions of southern Italy. The new concept evolved from Fico Cucina, his Italian pop-up, and takes its name from the colorful island of Procida, off the coast of Naples.
“It’s going to be a southern Italian restaurant,” Chiella told WhatNow Media Group. “It’s something I grew up with because I was born in southern Italy. It will be contemporary, but rooted in the flavors and traditions of southern Italian cuisine,” he said.
For Chiella, the restaurant is also a tribute to New Orleans’ longstanding ties to southern Italy.
“New Orleans has a great culture of southern Italians because Sicilians and people from the South came here a long time ago and helped shape the city into what it is today. For us, it’s like a thank-you letter to all those who helped build New Orleans,” he said.
Chiella recently announced the restaurant on Instagram, describing Procida as the next chapter for Fico Cucina. The new name pays homage to the island known for its hospitality, colorful streets and tradition of bringing people together around the table.
Procida is expected to welcome its first guests next month.
