He's the most Catalan of Italians! With a white beard and a Tifosi accent, Aldo Barbini has opened his sixth pasta restaurant in Perpignan. Of course called Casa Aldo.
“This time, it’s promised, sworn, spit, at 74 years old, this is the last restaurant that I will open.” Smiling, in his brand new kitchen, Aldo Barbini enjoys this life, his life, devoted to pasta. In the Catalan country, everyone calls him Aldo. And many have frequented in Perpignan and Canet-en-Roussillon, the Forum Romana, the Ponte Vecchio 1 and 2, the Spagheteria, the Cantina and, since June 2024, the Casa Aldo, in the Fauceille sector.
These pastas have almost become classics of blood and gold cuisine. Perhaps also because of the jerseys of the USAP, Dan Carter, the Catalan Dragons and so many others which mark the time on the walls of his trattoria. Without forgetting of course, the ex-votos from the house of Ferrari. Aldo set down his pots in 1972 in Perpignan, more than 50 years of a life between Italy and Catalonia shared with his wife.
“This cuisine is my passion”
The somewhat hesitant approach, “as soon as it’s humid, it squeaks”he beats his escalopes which will become Milanese in a few minutes. “This cuisine is my passion, I love the world, meeting people, eating well, life… People are kind here”. Now associated with Pierre Ayral in this “last” adventure, he does not forget “these clients that I have seen grow up, get married, have children and age”. Nor those nights singing Aldo Maccione, “classy”, on the dance floor of Tiffany's in Canet.
Farfalle, Linguine, Casareccia, Rigatoni, Penne, Tagliatelle, Fusilli… the menu is always a trip to the land of pasta. “The secret of successful pasta? Cooking, nothing but cooking, perfectly al dente. With a nice sauce and the right parmesan. You have to feel the taste of the pasta”, warns the one who made an exception to his religion: adding pizzas to the menu at Casa Aldo. “It reminds me of the good old days of Ponte Vecchio.” He is not the only one.
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