Trattorias marked the start of contemporary restaurant culture in Cape Town. Restaurants such as Venezia and San Marco were in the vanguard of creating the city’s dining-out scene.
You forgot to mention one of the pioneers of the Italian restaurant industry in Cape Town, Luciano Bersella. After completing his contract on the railways, he and Emiliano Sandre bought La Perla in town. They were very successful together, however they split up and Luciano opened the Lerici chain, Mamma Rosa and several other restaurants. Luigi worked for Luciano at Lerici in Woodstock. The other Lerici's were in Rondebosch and cental Cape Town in St. John's Place.
There is a photo of Luciano at La Perla in Sea Point now showing him at the original La Perla in town. He sadly passed away in 2004.
Many thanks indeed for this note. I did mention Luciano Bersella in the story, albeit admittedly way too briefly:
"In 1956, aged 22, Luigi Scaglia was one of approximately 100 young Italian men to garner a two-to-three-year contract with the South African Railways, along with Sandri and a future business partner, Luciano Bersella."
It is an oversight on my part not to have mentioned him more specifically in terms of La Perla, though, and I shall correct that. I shall also go take a look at the photo of him in La Perla when I'm back in CT.
Almost all of the information for this story was taken from in-person interviews, so with my not being able to talk to Bersella directly, my knowledge of his history is not as great. Sandri, unfortunately, wasn't keen to be interviewed.
I would be delighted to chat to you, if you're amenable to that, to flesh Bersella's story out? Please email me if you'd be willing to do that: decidedlyhot@hotmail.com
That was really the most fantastic history of sea point ! I remember Fracalo so well carrying a huge dish of his osso buca and of course who doesn’t remember San marco and the Venezia ! And then la Perla landed on the scene. Still as popular today - we used to go for toasted crayfish sandwiches in the 70’s. Dominique u have researched the subject so well👌👌what an enjoyable read
You forgot to mention one of the pioneers of the Italian restaurant industry in Cape Town, Luciano Bersella. After completing his contract on the railways, he and Emiliano Sandre bought La Perla in town. They were very successful together, however they split up and Luciano opened the Lerici chain, Mamma Rosa and several other restaurants. Luigi worked for Luciano at Lerici in Woodstock. The other Lerici's were in Rondebosch and cental Cape Town in St. John's Place.
There is a photo of Luciano at La Perla in Sea Point now showing him at the original La Perla in town. He sadly passed away in 2004.
Hi there,
Many thanks indeed for this note. I did mention Luciano Bersella in the story, albeit admittedly way too briefly:
"In 1956, aged 22, Luigi Scaglia was one of approximately 100 young Italian men to garner a two-to-three-year contract with the South African Railways, along with Sandri and a future business partner, Luciano Bersella."
It is an oversight on my part not to have mentioned him more specifically in terms of La Perla, though, and I shall correct that. I shall also go take a look at the photo of him in La Perla when I'm back in CT.
Almost all of the information for this story was taken from in-person interviews, so with my not being able to talk to Bersella directly, my knowledge of his history is not as great. Sandri, unfortunately, wasn't keen to be interviewed.
I would be delighted to chat to you, if you're amenable to that, to flesh Bersella's story out? Please email me if you'd be willing to do that: decidedlyhot@hotmail.com
Thanks again for your comment, Dom.
That was really the most fantastic history of sea point ! I remember Fracalo so well carrying a huge dish of his osso buca and of course who doesn’t remember San marco and the Venezia ! And then la Perla landed on the scene. Still as popular today - we used to go for toasted crayfish sandwiches in the 70’s. Dominique u have researched the subject so well👌👌what an enjoyable read
So much thought and work into this wonderful history. Thank you!