The best pasta maker in the world eats her lunch.
After a strenuous morning service, Rossella Giannini enjoys the silence. The silver-haired matriarch watches intently as her husband Maurizio divides the remaining contents of a large pan of ragout between herself, her son Alberto and her daughter-in-law Francesca, while the family of four exchange a few words as they diligently prepare for the evening ahead .
It's rarely this quiet at Ristorante Montana. Located just a stone's throw from Maranello, home of Ferrari, Rossella has fought an uphill battle to compete with the five-star hospitality offered later down the street, where men in suits charge extra for a slice of Italian Pay for luxury.
But the stars seem to be moving here. It was Erling Haaland, sitting within those four wood-paneled walls, writing “The best pasta I've ever eaten” on a napkin addressed to Rossella.
“Mino Raiola’s father was a friend,” explains Maurizio, the football super-agent who recommended this hidden gem to Manchester City’s goalscoring star before his death in 2022.
Rossella Giannini (center) runs Ristorante Montana with her husband Maurizio (right) and son Alberto (left).
Your restaurant is a hit with superstars like Erling Haaland. He described Rossella's pasta as “the best I've ever tasted” when he visited her restaurant in Maranello
Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo visited when he played for Juventus. He ate dumplings, noodles and tiramisu
Rossella was also visited by Hollywood royalty, including Penelope Cruz (second from left) and Michael Mann (right).
Haaland is one of countless football faces who make their way to Ristorante Montana. Roberto de Zerbi, Gianluca Scamacca and even Cristiano Ronaldo have paid a visit to Rossella – the famously diet-crazy Portuguese who couldn't resist Rossella's hearty cuisine during a visit to former Juventus president Andrea Agnelli a few years ago.
“He ate fried dumplings with sausages and pasta – lasagne, tortellini and gramigna – and tiramisu for dessert,” Rossella remembers.
She also has admirers in Hollywood: the actress Penelope Cruz and the director Michael Mann try her famous pasta.
But it is the drivers of La Scuderia who have made this place their home. Rene Arnoux and Stephan Johansson were the first to enter its doors in 1986, while Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, the two men competing for the Prancing Horse this year, are regular visitors. Sebastian Vettel still pops in despite leaving the team in 2020, while a framed photo of a grinning Fernando Alonso hugging the Italian chef during his formative racing years is proudly displayed alongside photos of his Ferrari colleagues.
However, there is one image that inspires the most awe among the countless memorabilia. Rossella stretches across the entire width of the wall, squeezing Michael Schumacher as he eats one of her main courses – tagliatelle with pork ragu sauce.
“To my Mama Rossella,” is the German’s message, carefully written on the screen in Italian. 'Thank you for everything.'
Rossella looks on with a smile, her gentle eyes shining with admiration for the man who makes it his mission to visit him every time he visits Maranello.
But Ferrari holds the deepest affection in Rossella's heart. The walls of the restaurant are covered in memorabilia
Michael Schumacher bonded most strongly with Rossella and visited the restaurant every time he was in Maranello
Schumacher called Rossella his “Italian mom” and loved her tagliatelle with pork ragu sauce
Ferrari colleagues Sebastian Vettel (left) and Charles Leclerc (right) regularly visit their restaurant
“He would come here for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” she tells Mail Sport as she clears the table.
“He was everything”
Rossella still remembers her first meeting with Schumacher. After signing with Ferrari, the German familiarized himself with the surroundings and showed up on their doorstep late at night.
“It was February 14, 1996 at 11:30 p.m.,” she remembers. “He landed in Parma with his private plane and came to us with the then press spokesman, Mr. Claudio Berro.” He had dinner on Valentine's Day evening. It was love at first sight!'
Five World Cups and many tagliatele dishes later, Schumacher has left an indelible mark on Maranello and Rossella's hearts.
“He called me his Italian mom and was like another son to me,” she says, smiling and enjoying these unforgettable moments.
It has been over ten years since Schumacher last visited Ristorante Montana, the German who was the victim of a shocking skiing accident in the French Alps in December 2013. His well-being was largely kept secret from his adoring fans and he has not been seen in public since.
Francesca, standing nearby under a framed Schumacher racing suit, says: “It's a tragedy.”
But the Schumacher clan has not forgotten the woman who was so dear to Michael.
Although visits have been few and far between since his son Mick left Ferrari's young driver program, three of the couple's racing helmets sit on a shelf above the checkout.
“Mick and his mother visited last year,” says Francesca, before showing a photo of the young driver warmly hugging Rossella. The connection between the families is still deep after all these years.
On this gray February afternoon, the wheels continue to turn at Ristorante Montana, and another successful trading evening is quickly approaching.
Will a famous face make a surprise visit tonight? Leclerc is in town to promote Ferrari's new partnership with Peroni, while excitement is huge over the impending arrival of Lewis Hamilton – the Briton has signed a lucrative deal to join Scuderia from 2025.
Now this quaint restaurant awaits the arrival of Lewis Hamilton when he joins the Scuderia in 2025
The seven-time world champion has never visited this Ferrari retreat, but his father Anthony visited many years ago, long before Hamilton began talks with the Italians about a surprise move from Mercedes.
As a follower of a strict vegan diet, will Rossella's famous tagliatelle disappear from the menu for Hamilton?
“I'm the boss here!” Rossella quips, excited at the prospect of cooking for the man desperately seeking a record-equalling eighth world title – a tally that will finally see him eclipse her darling Schumacher deliver. “He’ll have whatever I cook for him!”
If he's anything like his fellow stars, Hamilton won't be able to escape the magic of this sanctuary.
And the secret ingredient to Ristorante Montana's success? .
“It feels like home,” Rossella says.