03 April 2023
Juve-Verona, 1 April 2022
A sold-out stadium, a party atmosphere, and a Bianconeri victory.
Along with the forty thousand present at the Allianz Stadium there were four other fans who, in addition to rooting for Juve, were hard at work. Cooking enthusiasts in Italy know Hue, Bubu, Leonardo and Roberto very well as they were the four talented chefs that took part in MasterChef Italia 12. All four openly declared their black and white faith when they showcased their talent to guests of the Legends Club.
JUVENTINI SINCE DAY 1 OR…
“Black and white, opposites that form a perfect harmony. This together with the motto "Fino Alla Fine" struck me from the first moment I arrived in Italy,” said Hue, who jested on air with Chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo, a diehard Napoli fan. But we'll talk about that later.
Each has their own personal history when it comes to having chosen Juve as their team to support. If Roberto has always been a Juventino due to family inheritance, Leonardo and Bubu experience real "derbies" at home. Leonardo comes from a Milan and Inter family, proudly stating, “I am the only Bianconero, but I have enjoyed more than my fair share of success.” Meanwhile, Bubu comes from the Campania region and although his mother is a huge Napoli fan, it was his father that passed on the Juve DNA.
THAT DAY WITH THE CHEF…
Let’s go back to the moment when first Hue, then all the others, openly declared their footballing faith. “It was an amusing moment because Chef Cannavacciuolo pretended to be put out by it, so we were worried he might kick us out!” they admitted, but the tone of their voices made it clear that it was a joke shared by all. All part of the experience of MasterChef Italia 12, which the young talents described as incredible and unique. “It takes courage to participate in something like that. It opened my mind so much, made me understand that we also need to be a little less rational and let things go,” Roberto confessed, while for Bubu and Leonardo it was something that “changed our lives, made us understand that cooking is something we want to do in the future. It made us aware that this passion must become a job.” According to Hue, “The answer to my question: “can cooking be my future”? After the programme I know the answer is yes, so let's see which doors will open for us.”
It took us a while to realise that we would be working in the kitchen of the Legends Club - It was completely unique and exciting.
THE EMOTION OF THE ALLIANZ STADIUM
It has been a demanding, but not overwhelming, period for the young chefs. After the TV show, there arose the opportunity at the Allianz Stadium. “It took us a while to realise that we would be working in the kitchen of the Legends Club,” they said, “Being there, with this incredible view, was something special. It was completely unique and exciting.”
A CHAMPION INGREDIENT
Which Juventus star of past and present inspired the chefs the most? "I was a goalkeeper for years,” Bubu proudly admitted, “For me, Gigi Buffon is head and shoulders above the rest, both as a player and as a person." Leonardo didn’t hesitate to name Alessandro Del Piero, while Hue revealed she is a huge fan of Federico Chiesa, “For the fire in his eyes and for the conviction in achieving his goals”, while Roberto revealed a particular leaning for Arturo Vidal, “A reckless genius, exactly what I think you need to be in the kitchen.”
JUVE IS…?
A simple question, or maybe not: if Juve were an ingredient, what would it be? For everyone, a union of contrasts, effort and joy, of fundamental elements and that extra something, of determination and character. Salt and pepper, garlic, but also star anise, which Hue explained is, “a strong ingredient but which can be sweet and delicate at the same time.” A bit like the different stages of a game, or a season, when you have to be many things all at once. Or even prickly lettuce, according to Bubu, “An ingredient that should be treated well and with respect.”
THE BEST COMPLIMENT
The four aspiring chefs had no doubt which would be the best compliment each would like to receive, and for this reason it is right to close by quoting them all.
“You did a good job” - Hue.
“The best compliment is when I'm asked how I made the dish, it means it left its mark” - Leonardo.
“People's happiness and the fact that they get up from the table smiling” - Roberto and Bubu.
They undoubtedly gave the fans at the Legends Club something to smile about on April 1st. And probably, on leaving the kitchen at the end of their special shift, with the same smile they all looked back down at the pitch where their idols had just been playing.
