While waiting for the project to take shape, Giovanni has identified two potential ways of self-financing it: the first is growing light cannabis, which is also sold in retail shops under the brand name «Erba di Gio». the second is through his vegetable garden, where old varieties are grown, although “horticulture is planned for the fourth or fifth year of my project, to prepare ready-made sauces”.
In the summer of 2020 the Cascina Zan Superfood vegetable garden was only serving the Punto d’ascolto restaurant in Moncalieri, where Giovanni continues to work as Chef. We started with aperitifs, which we turned into tapas after the lockdown. Today, we serve 60-70 meals per day and the place has become a sort of restaurant. I am back to square one”, jokes Giovanni. While waiting for his house to be ready in Cascina Zan, Giovanni commutes from Turin, occasionally sleeping over in Roberta’s ciabót. A ciabòt is a typical rural house in Piedmont, a room with a mezzanine that Roberta has just finished restoring – a wooden treasure chest with no electricity. The stylish dry toilet is outdoors. If one steps out to reach it at dawn, they will walk under the stars of the Alta Langa. A magical place where Giovanni spent the entire spring 2020 lockdown , in a dialogue between Cascina Zan and Cascina Zan Superfood.