“Some time ago, Stash, the lead singer of The Kolors, was passing through Abruzzo and had lunch at my restaurant, Le frit c’est chic. He was so impressed with the dishes we were preparing that he said, ‘I want to bring this project to Capri.’”
It sounds like the beginning of a novel, but in reality, it marks the start of a great adventure: that of Calamore, a venue offering seafood dishes with a contemporary concept. The idea was born from the meeting between Manuel D’Alessandro and Stash, who wanted to develop a new brand of authenticity, focusing on the quality of raw ingredients. It’s a fast-paced, dynamic format, but not trivial, that highlights local products through a fish-based menu that customers can combine as they like: from salmon to cuttlefish tagliatelle, anchovies, and seafood salads… “Our concept,” Manuel tells us, “is a kind of modern gastronomy. The idea is to offer seafood dishes as quick meals to enjoy while sharing one of the most beautiful sunsets in Capri.”
The menu designed for Calamore strikes a balance between tradition and the discovery of contemporary flavors: “We offer a line of seafood sandwiches filled with cod, octopus carpaccio, tuna, salmon, and much more. We’ve also created a kind of reinterpretation of the traditional cuoppo, to stay connected to the Neapolitan tradition, but in line with our idea of not serving fried food to our customers. This is how the ‘Cuoppoke’ was born—a poke made with black rice or cereals, topped with fresh fish. The idea is that our cuisine shouldn’t have to adapt to this now-fashionable dish; rather, it’s the poke that should adapt to our tradition. Today, it’s one of the most popular dishes on our menu!”
But why choose Capri to begin this new adventure? “We came to Capri for vacation thanks to the friendship between Valerio Pagano and Stash, who have been working together for some time and managing the artistic direction of That’s Amore Capri 2023. Valerio was the link between us and the island. As for the name of our business, there’s an interesting story behind it: we were in the car, returning from Milan, and Stash said, ‘You don’t know how much I’d love to have a squid skewer right now; I’d stop in a heartbeat to get one!’ So I replied, ‘That’s true love for squid!’ And that’s how Calamore was born. We immediately realized it was a name people liked, perfect for Capri—a place with so many fascinating views, an island that inspires love in every direction.”
Of course, the star dish at Calamore is the squid skewer, which inspired the name of this culinary experience halfway between a restaurant and street food. But there are also octopus or cuttlefish salads, marinated dishes, and some non-seafood options… All are quick, genuine, and authentic meals.
“We don’t target a specific group with Calamore; in fact, from these first days of opening, we’ve found that the project appeals to everyone. After all, Capri is a great testing ground, as people from all over the world come here. The locals have welcomed us warmly, perhaps because our offering is authentic; but we’re also popular with foreign tourists. The next step? Who knows… We’d love to bring Calamore to other cities in Italy and beyond, but we might also open another location on the island in Anacapri… For us, this has been a great starting point, and we’re full of ideas and energy to continue with our project.”
