A dream is becoming reality for personal chef Landi Prendi, who is debuting an authentic Italian restaurant in Philadelphia’s Fairmount neighborhood.
Valentina Italian Ristorante will open this spring at 2501 Meredith St. in the former Figs space.
“This is a dream come true. I’ve been dreaming for 20 years about having my own restaurant. I work as a personal chef, I have my own company, but this is bigger and better and at a more competitive stage than ever before,” Prendi told What Now Philadelphia.
Prendi is originally from Albania and moved to Southern Italy to work in the culinary industry in what is considered the birthplace of Italian cuisine. In 2001, he came to the United States to become a personal chef. His career spans more than two decades, and he has even published three books on food, wine and poetry.
The new restaurant pays tribute to his mother and her cooking.
“Valentina is a very Mediterranean popular name in Italy, Greece, Spain and Albania, where I am from. Valentina means strong woman. Valentina is my mother’s name. She is my inspiration all these years. All the beginning of my cooking was with her when I was little,” Prendi said.
The menu will feature a variety of handmade pasta dishes, small plates and desserts. Like Figs, Valentina will also be BYOB.
“The restaurant is Italian. Where I’m from, it’s the last town in southwest of Albania, and then it’s the Arctic Sea and Italy. There’s a lot of similarities in the culture and pasta. The pasta I learned from my mom when she would make it by hand. There will be some of her recipes and some of my own recipes,” he said.
Prendi, who has also taught cooking classes over the last several years, will bring the experience into the restaurant. He will host cooking classes on Mondays for lunch and dinner. The rest of the week will feature regular fine dining, and on Saturdays and Sundays there will be brunch.
In preparation for a grand opening targeted for the end of May, the team has been updating the former Figs space to fit Valentina’s vision, including paint and décor changes.
Prendi said he is eager to join Philadelphia’s bustling dining scene and invite guests along on his new culinary journey. Stay tuned!
