 Photo: BK Agency You walk into Pane e Latte and you are welcomed with open arms. The interior style is much like a cute, bespoke home and you feel instantly at ease when you walk into this Broadview Café. It feels like you are sitting down at someone’s kitchen table. Opening his own place has been a dream goal for Matteo Giordano, and that dream came true when he opened the doors to his very own Italian style Café a little over a year ago. He has always enjoyed going out for breakfast, and wanted to give the people of Adelaide an Italian twist by bringing dishes such as breakfast Tiramisu pancakes and Benedetto to the table. Matteo is part of the cool crew of cooks coming through the ranks who are opening up hip places in the suburbs. We sat down with Matteo to chat about running his own business and where his love of cooking comes from.  Photo: BK Agency In opening Pane e Latte, Matteo saw a gap in the market for hearty Italian cooking with a breakfast twist. He has always loved food and enjoys being around people, so the natural progression from being in the kitchen to opening his venue has been an enjoyable one. He loves the satisfaction you get when people sit down and enjoy your cooking.  Photo: Pane e Latte There’s a strong family influence behind his love and passion for cooking. His grandmother and mother have been significant influences on him, growing up in Italy, and spending time in the kitchen as a kid he learnt a lot of his love for cooking and traditional Italian technique from family ties. As a teenager, he loved going out with friends to try different things. Spending time with friends and family, and breaking bread around the table has always been a passion for Matteo and is what he aims to emulate at Pane e Latte. Moving to Australia when he was 27, he says there is a lot in common between cooking here and cooking back home in Italy, but he loves the blend of cultures when cooking in Australia. Dabbling in a little kitchen work back home and working his way through the ranks, he moved to Australia and began working in Port Douglas at a Seafood Restaurant. From there he travelled around cooking and enjoying Australia before settling down in Adelaide.  Photo: BK Agency Matteo has worked in restaurants such as Ruby Red Flamingo, Tony Tomato, and Ostera Oggi, and has been lucky to learn from some of the best in the business right here in Adelaide. Going out on his own and opening his place has been a learning curve in how to run a business, not just a kitchen. Without a doubt his most significant career achievement is opening Pane E Latte; 100% he says, and he is immensely proud of what he has created with his staff.  Photo: Pane e Latte ‘People care about the environment, the service and the quality of produce’, he says on what he sees as the most impactful change in his time in the industry and the Adelaide dining scene.  Photo: BK Agency In opening his own business, everything is a continuation of the learning process. He’s learning every second that the doors are open. Refining the product, and also working on a consistent offering of food and service. ‘Be prepared, be prepared, be prepared!’ is Matteo’s advice to someone starting out in the industry. Planning and preparation is key to doing well. He also believes that consistency is the key to a great product, and don’t be afraid to give things a go. If it doesn’t work straight away, stick at it. Matteo says he is so lucky to live in Adelaide and have so much inspiration around him with so many great chefs to look up to. Inspiration is everywhere, and having people to look up to is crucial. Serial Restaurateur Simon Kardachi has been an inspiration, as has Andrew from Meze Mazi. A support network is crucial to refining your product, and while advice is good, the implementation is critical. And he believes that customer service is key to staying at the top of the game. Be aware of what is happening on the floor, read the tables, and work hard to keep everyone happy. Pane e Latte serves up traditional Italian eats Tuesday: Thursday 8am – 2 pm Friday: 8am – 2pm and open for dinner 4:30 pm – 9pm Saturday and Sunday: 8:30am – 3 pm Head on over and try some delicious, authentic Italian fare. Whether that be Tiramisu Pancakes, a full Italian breakfast paired with a coffee, or home-made pasta paired with an Italian wine, you won’t be disappointed.  Photo: BK Agency
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