Felice Macchi, an Italian insurance agent, celebrated his 73rd birthday in style at La Bettola Del Gusto, a seafood-focused restaurant in Pompeii, Italy. He indulged in the house specialty, spaghettoni in a fermented anchovy sauce with black truffles and butter made from Mediterranean water buffalo milk. The dish was served on a whimsically hand-painted ceramic plate depicting the pasta and a smoking volcano, a nod to Mount Vesuvius.
But Mr. Macchi didn’t just enjoy his meal – he also added to his extensive collection of Buon Ricordo plates, a type of Italian tableware designed to highlight signature dishes from regional restaurants. Since 2022, he has been the president of the Buon Ricordo Plate Collectors Association, which boasts about 400 members in Europe and South America.
The Buon Ricordo plates were introduced in 1964 as a marketing tool for the Buon Ricordo Union, an association of regional Italian restaurants aiming to promote and preserve traditional Italian cuisine. Each restaurant’s plate features a unique design showcasing its signature dish, and patrons can take the plate home as a keepsake.
The popularity of these plates has extended beyond Italy, with restaurants in cities like Paris, Tokyo, and New York offering them as part of a Buon Ricordo tasting menu. High-end stores like ABC Carpet & Home in New York also carry the plates, attracting customers like Daniele Tassi, chef and co-owner of the Italian restaurant Terre in Brooklyn.
Terre recently became the first and only member of the Buon Ricordo Union in the United States, serving its signature dish of pappardelle pasta with wild boar ragù on the iconic plates. The tradition of using quality, seasonal ingredients resonates with customers like Mary Lies, who sells the plates at her retail business in Kansas City.
The charm and history of the Buon Ricordo plates continue to captivate collectors and diners alike, serving as a reminder of Italy’s rich culinary heritage and the joy of a good meal shared with loved ones.
