Just like Totò and Peppino De Filippo in the 1950s masterpiece “Totò, Peppino e la... malafemmina” (and if you haven't seen it, don't tell us—just go fix that mistake, it’s time for a history lesson), arriving in Milan loaded with dreams and, in their case, guanciale, we like to imagine Alessandro D’Alessio and Dario Tortorella in the exact same way. Two totally different figures, yet united by something that goes beyond passion: when you talk to them, you take home the warmth of the South. You don't get that vibe of victimhood or weakness often associated with the region (hopefully you’re sharp enough to realize we’re being provocative here); instead, you bring home warmth, life, culture, and modernity.
MY HOMELAND
We are talking about Campania and Puglia—two lands so different yet so intertwined. Lands where the sun makes everything a bit sweeter, but where rising to the top in a field like mixology is never a given. These places are often remembered more for their socio-cultural struggles (not that they don't exist) than for the lived experience and the sense of belonging. Belonging to those places creates a visceral bond with the land that you carry with you wherever you go: whether you’re in a Tiki Bar in Milan or traveling through Asia, that cazzima never changes.
"I realize it every day when customers come to the bar. During that initial get-to-know-you chat, when I tell them I’m from Puglia, everyone says: 'Wow, Puglia, so beautiful!' Everyone expresses strong feelings for the region—those who’ve visited it, and especially those who haven't yet but have a burning desire to go." — ALESSANDRO D’ALESSIO
SLIDING DOORS
What if, for one day, we decided to swap them? Dario to the Tiki bar and Alessandro to Antiquario? Edo, Alex—we’re giving you this idea fee-free: think about it and let us know. If we moved the man in the tie into the Tiki world and the Tiki man into the world of pure elegance, what would happen? How would these two distinct, strong, and irreverent personalities react to the impact? The question we often ask ourselves when we see bartenders in their workplace is: are they in the right place, or just the place that is useful to them right now? Working behind a bar allows you to connect with so many people and feel their warmth, but the insane shifts and hours can strip away your life. If you don't do it with passion, you risk feeling like you're in a cage.
"Well, I can't wait to do a shift at Antiquario. I can tell you the first thing I’d change within five minutes is definitely the tie. Damn! Dario will hate me for this because he loves ties, but after a while, I just need to loosen everything up... I just can't do it. Wearing a tie is a real struggle for me. But I have to admit, the white jacket has always been a symbol of elegance in the bar world. I mean, look at bars like Schumann’s in Munich—which was surely an inspiration for Antiquario and even for Rita in Milan. Even the old Cuban bars that predated Tiki mixology were all about that total white look." — ALESSANDRO D’ALESSIO
"The things you do against your will become a cage. Today, people look for 'other things' from bars—guest shifts, competitions, rankings, visibility, etc. When that 'other' doesn't arrive, you eat your heart out and think: 'Why am I doing this? I’m in a cage, screw the formality and screw the bar.' This happens when you wear a uniform only for a secondary goal. I get it, but being a bartender isn't that. Maybe some people chose the wrong profession. I chose to be a bartender every single day, and to do it, I just need to be in a bar. Every day I go to work thinking I’m doing something I chose; whatever comes next, comes. Honestly, I wouldn't change much, if anything, about Tiki. I like it that way. The shirts, the flames, the great classics, and the smiles: all perfect, all together. Last time I had a perfect Navy Grog, who makes a Navy Grog like that anymore? You’d have to work there first to understand the dynamics, but from the other side of the counter, those happy, relaxed faces don't lie. Actually, now you’ve made me crave a Mai Tai: alright, I’ll stop by next month and update you, maybe I'll change my cocktail." DARIO TORTORELLA
THE COMPETITION "TRANSFER MARKET"
We are in competition season, which feels like the "transfer market" for new brand faces and bartender visibility. We are at that point where the question is often: does the best person win, or the one who moves the most volume? Is it rigged, or is there actual meritocracy? Without debating the weight or value of one over another... while many ask these questions, we focused on talking to two characters who have actually done the competitions and won them (and for those wondering, no, we didn't ask them if they’re real or fake).
“Every victory is unique; it depends on how well you play your hand and how the stars align. You celebrate that day, and then you go back to the bar to give that victory value. Value is proven every day. The spotlights reflect value; winning a race isn't enough. Alessandro knows this well too. One thing that amused me, though, was bringing a Competition victory a bit further south geographically for the first time!” DARIO TORTORELLA
"Yes, I have to admit that beyond the specific 'weight', which I believe should be measured based on each person's individual experience, a competition is just the icing on the cake. It’s a goal that can make you happy and grateful for what you do every day at the bar; it’s an extra. I want to emphasize that Dario was a source of inspiration even during my final speech. The first line of my presentation, the one that broke the ice and allowed me to express myself in front of 500 people, was inspired by him. I can only thank him, beyond our friendship, for the professional respect and the sparks he gave me that day." ALESSANDRO D’ALESSIO
THE TREND BLUFF
Just as Totò and Peppino arrived in Milan looking suspiciously at anything that wasn't bread, oil, and healthy rural values, the bar world today lives a similar paradox. On one side, the search for authenticity and "territory"; on the other, trends that are starting to "exhaust" those who actually live the bar every day. Trends that often aren't born to satisfy the customer, but the bartender's ego—as if we sometimes forget that if the till doesn't ring, the shutters close. We love talking to these two because they have the ability to talk about authenticity and territory with substance terms we often forget the meaning of.
"I don't like trends in general, copying whatever is 'in' in contexts where it doesn't work, just to feed a personal ego or show off to some social media audience. The bar is being used as a backdrop for content instead of a place to make people feel good. Consistency above all. Today, it’s like you have to do certain things, but it’s not right; it doesn't sell. I’d love to give some examples, but I’ll restrain myself! Oh, and on some nights, I’d make whipped cream disappear entirely!" DARIO TORTORELLA
"Yeah, hi! Direct and super simple answer: Milk Punch. They’ve become a pain in the ass. They all taste the same, milky, murky, just... blah. If they aren't done perfectly, they are a disaster. Fail. And above all, 'Fake Lime.' Enough with the Fake Lime! Use Fabbri’s Sweet & Sour powder instead, it tastes better! Too often in the bar world, we see the bartender's ego and 'know-how' taking center stage for the sake of other colleagues. We should be building drinks for the guests. That’s why sometimes even I find it hard to choose a drink when I go out. I put myself in the shoes of a normal guest who just wants a simple Daiquiri. We need to start making fewer drinks for bartenders and more drinks for the people." ALESSANDRO D’ALESSIO
THE MEANING OF THE JOURNEY
One of them asked us at Spaghetty: "But all this storytelling, everything you're creating... what is it?" The answer is simple: ours is a journey. Obviously, we have a destination and a direction, but the goal changes every day. Because Spaghetty is an evolution, a project; it allows us to give a voice to everything that often can't be said. Above all, it allows us to go beyond appearances and create something that makes us wake up in the morning wanting to say: "DAMN, I’M DOING EXACTLY WHAT I WANT."
For those wondering, we won't tell you who is Peppino and who is Totò, you can decide which character fits whom. But one thing is for sure: in our opinion, anyone who has the guts to set out on a new path, far from their comfort zone, can see themselves in them.
