Ivrea, on March 21 a kiosk bar opened: “The date was not chosen at random, it is a symbol of rebirth for everyone”
IVREA. Logic would have invited them to be prudent, but Sarah, Alberto and Michela have chosen to be courageous and to help revive a splendid corner of the city, starting their business in full pandemic and at the same time launching a message of optimism, certain that the future will prove them right. I’m Sarah Castagnone, 39, half Piedmontese and half Aosta Valley, resident in Canavese, Alberto Domenighini, 40, Aosta Valley resident in Canavese and Michela Pagani, 40, Lombard from the province of Varese, living in Valle D’Aosta for 10 years and about to move to Canavese, three friends who, on Sunday 21st, celebrated the beginning of spring by reopening the kiosk, renamed Acquamossa-il Bar del Canoa, in the Ivrea canoa club area: a sign of good luck and to express the everyone’s desire for a quick return to normal. “At the moment – says Michela Pagani – due to the restrictions for Covid-19, we are open every day from 8 to 18, with only the take away service, but we count, as soon as it is allowed, to implement the service both in terms of , allowing customers to consume at the tables, which for times, fixing the closing at 22. Our offer ranges from breakfasts to light lunches, up to aperitifs, with particular attention to the quality of raw materials and their combinations. When we started to set up the menu we thought of different types of customers including sportsmen who need a light but energetic lunch and the ever-increasing number of pilgrims who travel the Via Francigena and who are pleased to know the products of the territory. , so alongside the great classics you can find sandwiches with toma della Valchiusella or with bagnet verd, as well as fruit and vegetable extracts, hummus and grilled vegetables. The choice of suppliers that we wished to be in a good part of the area was fundamental for us, starting from the Perrero coffee of San Carlo Canavese up to the Rabel beer, originally from Ivrea ».
How did the idea of the reopening come about?
“The reasons – explains Michela – are many, first of all the fact that Alberto is a member of the Ivrea canoa club, as well as a chef, and has long looked to the kiosk as a place where he can express his creativity and that at the time itself enabled him to maintain his core business. At the end of 2020 the opportunity presented itself and we decided to take it all together, each putting their own time and skills into play. And then there was the desire to offer the people of Ivrea a space to relax in a delightful corner that is worth living even just fleetingly for a coffee time, both for the glimpse of the city and for the coolness that the Dora offers in the summer days. It is also important to underline how the kiosk, owned by the Ivrea canoa club asd, is located inside a park frequented, in normal times, by many families with children: reopening means being able to offer a service to them too ».
What prompted you to reopen?
«Basically, all three of us are aware of the unfortunately unexpressed potential of the city of Ivrea and this too represented a push to get involved, as well as a dose of healthy madness which, however, we know, keeps alive. We tried to look beyond the historical and social moment, never placing Covid as a limit to the initiative, but trying to find a way to carry out the project despite the restrictions. Reopening also means giving a signal of optimism and, as regards the first day of opening, we were enthusiastic because, despite the period, several people came by even just for a coffee, clearly respecting the rules ».
Why 21?
«The date of March 21st seemed emblematic to us as a symbol of rebirth and sufficiently in advance of the second weekend in April, when an international competition will be held at the Canoe Stadium, in order to allow us to run our internal organization well. As soon as we will be able to complete the setting up of the space inside the park in order to offer customers a more peaceful break, with the possibility of sitting down, and, perhaps, to organize some event ».
A beautiful challenge that the three friends face not only with great enthusiasm but also with good preparation and considerable competence: Sarah, in fact, has always worked in the tourism sector; Alberto has worked for various accommodation facilities throughout Italy, including Canavese, both as a chef and as a consultant for catering, contributing to the birth and rebirth of some catering businesses; Michela deals with territorial development and marketing projects. For all of them the activity of the kiosk goes alongside the main one. –