Here is Matteo Bersellini, one of the nicest people with which you can work. And a pretty darn good chef, too. This picture pretty much sums him up - I was taking pics of this wedding celebration dessert arrangement, and he snuck into the frame.

Matteo grew up in this area near Parma, had his culinary training here, so he knows the roots and traditions of Parmigiano cuisine. When I started my internship at Al Vedel, it was at his station, the Secondi, which is the equivalent of what we call The Main Course. And even though chef Enrico has the last say of the menu choices, Matteo designs all the secondi plates, staying true to their respective traditions.

To say that Matteo is a pretty cool dude is a gross understatement. In fact, he is actually pretty goofy. He is also cool as a cucumber, even under fire. Even in the middle of a very busy dinner service, he will be singing (softly, of course) whatever is on his brain.

Which can be any number of tunes.

Now when you are The New Guy as I was, you are at least somewhat reserved, if not outright nervous, at the beginning. But on my first day, having my head down while focused on cleaning beef or fish or whatever I was doing at that time, I suddenly heard the theme to The Flintstones!!!?????!!!! I looked over, and there was Matteo whistling this as he worked. I knew right then and there that I could get along really well with this guy. Since then I've heard quite a number of other things out of him, ranging from rock of the 70's to the 90's, reggae, and even Boy George (oh, the horror!) but at heart he is bluesman and a headbanging rock star wannabe. So yeah, he is really cool....

And when I am finished here at Al Vedel, I will make a compilation: The Greatest Hits of Matteo Bersellini.....