La Favellina

The story

La Favellina: Michelin-Starred Italian Contemporary Cuisine in Vicenza, Italy

La Favellina, Vicenza

Since 1999, the Pettenuzzo family has been welcoming guests to La Favellina, a restaurant set in the quiet countryside of San Tomio di Malo, just outside Vicenza. The atmosphere is warm and personal—Riccardo Pettenuzzo tends every detail of the dining room, from the fresh floral arrangements on each table to the soft light of candles, all meant to create a sense of visual well-being. It feels less like a formal dining room and more like an invitation into someone’s home.

This is the backdrop for the cooking of Chef Federico Pettenuzzo, whose kitchen earned a Michelin star in 2021—a recognition that has been confirmed each year since, including the 2025 guide. Federico describes his cuisine in three words: espressa, naturale e riconoscibile—expressed, natural, and recognizable.

“Espressa” means all preparations are made the same day, with final cooking finished during service. The result is a bespoke, “sartorial” dining experience. “Naturale” reflects his strong connection to the vegetable world; he often picks herbs and greens from his own garden or forages just outside the village. Italian Contemporary cuisine here is deeply seasonal. Autumn, with its intense colors and flavors, is his favorite season to cook. “Riconoscibile” means every element on the plate is clear enough to be understood without explanation—no guesswork, just honest flavor.

Federico’s path to this point includes stages with acclaimed chefs: Piergiorgio Parini, Giuliano Baldassarri, and Enrico Crippa, the last of whom taught him to appreciate the potential of vegetables and aromatic herbs. That influence shows in a style that favors vegetarian and plant-based elements. He personally shops for the finest ingredients, and has banned sous-vide cooking, believing it limits the expressive power of top-quality produce.

The wine list balances big-name labels with small, curious bottles from local cantinas, often unknown to international guests but capable of surprising even the most demanding palates. The service in the dining room is elegant but informal—Federico himself says, “I don’t want too much formality.”

La Favellina is a place where a family’s passion, a chef’s instinct, and a Michelin star come together over plates that taste of the Veneto countryside.