Collecting Boun Ricordo (Good Memory) Plates in Italy!

During our Voyage throughout Italy, one of my stubborn rules was to only bring back small, easily packed and lightweight souvenirs to remember our experiences. In Matera we got a ceramic water whistle that emits a bird-like warbling sound. In Alberobello, we purchased  a small stone model of a trullo for Lucas. In Pisa I bought an olive handled sommelier's corkscrew. And of course, in Vietri sul Mare (the Amalfi Coast's ceramics town), we bought a few small pieces of ceramics. And of course, there were thousands of photographs we took.

I don't know why I was so worried about bringing back mementos. I vowed to Lisa that when we return, we'd toss our clothes before returning and pack our suitcases with as much as we can fit! After all, the French word souvenir means memory. 

Artisans painting plates at the Solimene factory during our visit.

I really regret was not bringing back more ceramic plates, especially those made by the Solimene Ceramics factory in Vietri sul Mare. Their patterns and colors are full of the vibrance and colors of the Amalfi Coast. Since then, we built our collection of Solimene bowls, plates and platters by paying higher prices on Ebay than we would have if we bought them from the Solimene factory where they were made. Dumb, right?

But there is another way to collect very special Solimene plates--by having meals in ristoranti who are members of the Unione Ristoranti del Buon Ricordo (Restaurants of Good Memory Union). Member restaurants have specially designed plates made by Solimene, cheerfully illustrating their Piatti di Giorno (dish of the day) along with the restaurant name and town they are in. Member restaurants have to abide by one rule: that they use only regional ingredients in their dishes.

Fish Soup alla Genovese

Imagine going on your own Grand Voyage, traveling from restaurant to restaurant, then ordering their Piatto del Giorno, and having it delivered on an amazingly colorful and often humorous plate. Then after the meal, you get to take that plate home. What a memory!

The Italian restaurateurs' association was born in Italy in 1964, and was the inspiration of ​Dino Villani, a advertising executive who was known for the creation of the Miss Italy pageant.

Villani's dream is now a reality in over 400 member restaurants in Italy, South America (lots of Italians there), New York, Paris and Tokyo! Patrons of these restaurants receive the plates if they order either the Piatto del Giorno or as part of a multi-course Buon Ricordo tasting menu. I've even heard of some restaurants who offer plates even though they are not members of Buon Ricordo!

So, check out the link below to see if there is a Buon Ricordo ristorante in towns on your itinerary.

Buon viaggio e buon appetito! 

--Jerry Finzi

---

Listing of the member restaurants in Italy.