Inside the bustling kitchens of the Quirinale, where meals for heads of state and dignitaries are prepared each day, a 23-year-old carefully arranges trays of vegetables. Standing in such a symbolic place leaves him visibly moved. His past - marked by a mistake that led him to the juvenile prison of Nisida - now coexists with a strong desire to rebuild his life. He dreams of a family and a job that will keep him “from slipping up again.” After earning a diploma from a culinary school, he hopes to become a chef - or perhaps a hairdresser, he admits shyly.
He is in Rome with two other young men from Naples for a three-day internship, a special opportunity offered by President Sergio Mattarella, who met them during a visit to their facility in September. Guiding them is Luca Pipolo, founder of Monelli tra i fornelli, an association that uses cooking as a way to help at-risk youth find new direction. “Many of them never even had a first chance,” Pipolo says.
While the boys shape gnocchi and speak about their hopes - a job, a family, a bit of luck - the Quirinale’s executive chef, Fabrizio Boca, joins them. In charge since 1993, he explains how each menu reflects Italy’s regional traditions and relies on produce from the presidential estate at Castel Porziano. The students listen attentively. “He made us feel at home,” they say.
The day ends with President Mattarella greeting the three trainees one by one. “Welcome,” he says warmly. For the boys, the experience feels like a small but meaningful step toward a different future.