Y'all. We do NOT live like this. I *wish* we could live like this. We knew when planning our return…read moretrip to Verona that we'd want to find "a special spot" to celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary. We did the research, of course, and kept coming back to Casa Perbellini. To be specific: we kept coming back to the Chef's Table experience at Casa Perbellini.
Was it expensive? Yes. Was it extravagant? Yes. Was it a little over the top? Indeed. But, was it worth it? Undoubtedly, yes. A hundred times, yes. If we could go back tomorrow, we'd book in a heartbeat.
We did do a bit of reconnaissance the morning of our reservation, making sure we knew where we were going so that we could easily navigate there in the cold and dark, with me clickety-clacking over the cobblestone streets in my heels. And when we arrived, a few minutes before our reservation time, we were greeted at the door with a smart-looking group of staff and the Chef himself.
Walking in, you're welcomed into what looks like a library, where the staff confirms your name and reservation time, takes your coats and scarves, and invites you to get comfortable while you wait. They had a full chef's table experience that night, and we were one of two English-speaking couples in attendance.
And here I want to pause to shout out the incredible Stefano, who was tasked not only with choosing the wines for every meal throughout the night, but with taking care of us and the other American couple, ensuring we were able to understand everything the Chef was saying, and what was presented to us to consume. (Also, extra points to Stefano for keeping our wine glasses full - something I had not anticipated haha - and for humoring my sudden need to understand everything about every glass they put in front of us. The craftsmanship that went into the glasses, guys! The delicate but strong stems, the beautiful bowls...I couldn't get enough!)
Chef's table attendees are treated to a property walk-through before heading to the special dining room. You hear about the history, see incredibly old structures and learn more about the Chef, the food and the ties to Italy.
Our 10-course meal kicked off pretty quickly after we were seated, and each diner was immediately taken care of by the dining room staff, including Stefano, who made trip after trip around the table, topping off glasses and showcasing wines.
I'll post pictures of each item we were served, including our special anniversary desserts, complete with the descriptions, courtesy of the souvenir menu - signed by chef himself - handed to us as we were heading out for the night.
I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. Even if you're not doing the Chef's Table experience, the food - which is the same as what was served to the main dining room, with a few special exceptions for the Table diners - is delicious, beautiful and indulgent.