The Cavallino holds a special place in the history of Ferrari. Enzo Ferrari would regularly lunch here with his
colleagues and it was usually here that he would meet potential new drivers and engineers to recruit them
to the team. The walls of this restaurant could tell the tale of handshakes that were then formalised as
contracts, they witnessed discussions, often animated, during lunches with journalists at the end of or prior
to the start of the racing season. At these meetings, Enzo would defend his Ferrari from criticisms that
appeared in the daily and weekly papers. It was from here that Enzo also followed what was going on at the
track, watching the races live on television in the restaurant’s private room which now bears his name.
Today, seated in the Ristorante Cavallino, drivers, managers, marketing guests and journalists rediscovered
the warmth of the place, but with a different vibe: a contemporary trattoria, but firmly rooted in its territory,
just like Ferrari, which over the years has increasingly opened its doors to people from all over the world,
while still remaining very much Italian and true to the Emilia Romagna region. Inside and out, every design
detail and furnishing has been tailor made, taking its inspiration from the traditional Italian trattoria, at the
same time exemplifying the world of Ferrari, which is why, to all intents and purposes, it is yet another
example of the brand’s excellence.
This special reunion was a wonderful opportunity to relive tales of bygone days, revealing the importance of
the Cavallino to the younger diners. There from the Seventies were Jacky Ickx, Arturo Merzario, René
Arnoux and 1979 world champion Jody Scheckter, who found themselves explaining to Leclerc and Sainz
what the place was like when Maranello was their home. And the veteran journalists had a tale or two to tell
the present day TV reporters. Also present was Gerhard Berger, who along with Michele Alboreto, made up
the last Scuderia driver pairing personally chosen by Enzo Ferrari prior to his death in 1988. Giancarlo
Fisichella was also present, the last Italian to race for Scuderia Ferrari as well as Luca Badoer, the long
time test driver during the golden Michael Schumacher era.
Cavallino Restaurant
Via Abetone Inferiore, 1,
41053 Maranello MO
www.ristorantecavallino.com
Opening times: from Monday to Sunday, lunch and dinner
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