Chicago Vatican and Chefs will open an ecological restaurant in Castel Gandolfo

Pope Leo XIV announced a historical alliance between the Vatican and two recognized restaurateurs from Chicago, Art Smith and Phil Stefani, to open a restaurant in a complex of 55 hectares of “Zero Environmental Impact” in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.

The Pontiff inaugurated the project during a ceremony broadcast live on September 5, followed from Chicago at an event with Stefani, Mayor Brandon Johnson and other personalities.

The new restaurant will be located within the historic pontifical villas, a summer residence of the seventeenth century used by the potatoes. The place seeks to promote Pope Francis’s teachings about the care of creation.

At the inauguration of the Burgus Aldea Laudato Si ‘, the Pope said that it is “one of the Church’s initiatives to perform the’ vocation of being custodians of the work of God ‘.”

At the beginning of this year, a committee chaired by the late Pope Francis chose Smith and Stefani to direct this unprecedented project, which will debut in the spring of 2026 as the only restaurant and catering service in the farm. It will offer breakfast and lunches, in addition to a small market.

The restaurant will serve Italian cuisine with fresh products of local origin and international touches, combining flavors of Chicago and Peru in honor of Pope Leo XIV.

The ingredients will come from a solar greenhouse within Burgus Laudato if ‘, designed with the shape of the San Pedro Square colonnate, as well as other local sources. The complex, which includes gardens, farmland, vineyards and training programs in organic agriculture, vinification without pesticides and olives harvest, will also offer retreats for business leaders and educational programs in ecology.

The space also has latest generation insulation systems, photovoltaic panels and water circular management.

Smith, winner of the James Beard and Exchef Prize Personal Oprah Winfrey, is recognized for his work with the non -profit organization Common Threads and currently directs meeting and Blue Door Kitchen & Garden in Chicago.

Stefani, whose Italian restaurant empire began in 1980 with Stefani’s, directs the Stefani Restaurant Group, with premises such as Tavern On Rush, Stefani Prime, Tuscany, Castaways Beach Club, Stefani’s Italian Bottega and Broken English Taco Pub.

“As Catholic and Italian, this project is a dream for my family and for me,” said Stefani. “Being part of a culinary experience owned by the Vatican is deeply significant. But we also share this honor with the city of Chicago. We have the unique opportunity to bring a home taste, that unique spirit of Chicago, to a global audience.”

Mayor Johnson described Smith and Stefani as “true Chicago legends” and the alliance as “a striking and serendipia victory” for the city.

Another loop with Chicago is Fr. Manuel Dorantes, appointed in October Director of Administrative Management of the Laudato Si ‘Higher Education Center. Before he was Pastor of St. Mary of the Lake – Our Lady of Lourdes in northern Chicago, and accompanied Pope Leo XIV at Friday’s ceremony.