Bertoni Casalinga Mosman
Editorial
You can bet your booty that plenty of North Shore locals were over the moon when Balmain's Bertoni Casalinga opened up a sister cafe in Mosman, and not just because they could save three bucks on the Harbour Bridge toll. The Iacano brothers' cafe on Balmain's foodie strip had quite a reputation on either side of the bridge for their delicious home-style Italian nosh, and so the boys decided to bring their style of hospitality to the North Shore. The Mosman Bertoni Casalinga (which literally means “homemade”) is a buzzing little spot set just off Military Road, and is more like an extension of Alberto and Antonio's family kitchen than a flashy Mosman cafe, which is just the way everyone seems to like it.
The Iacano brothers come from a close-knit Italian family; mother Maria is the keeper of the recipes and supreme influence on food, while father Alfonso grows most of the cafe's fresh produce in his market garden. This family ethos has been transferred to the cafe, where kids chow down on gorgeous tiny cupcakes and mums with four-wheelers sip coffee and nibble at paninis. Breakfast is available until 2pm and has a lovely Italian twist; try the smoked salmon stack on Turkish bread with lemon ricotta and zesty rocket. For something hearty later in the day, tuck into the hand-rolled gnocchi or minestrone soup, but if you want to be everyone's favourite at dinner time, pick up some lasagne and green salad to take home. Both stores also stock a range of deli and grocery items, so you can try your hand at some casalinga-style cooking yourself.
Amy Looker, December 2007
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