BEYOND
LA PINSA Interview with
Fausto Soldini Owner of Zero Sei Trattoria Romana
W
here to begin about Fausto Soldini? A Roman restauranteur with a passion for ‘la carbonara’ and anything la cucina Romana offers. As he often stresses, “we speak poor English but we make good carbonara.” Bold, frank, warm, straight to the point, uncompromising and with a smile and a laugh that lights up a room. We could talk about this man for hours: his sympathy, his charisma, and his knowledge are a universe to get lost in. Above all, Fausto is blessed with an energy and infectious enthusiasm to share his grandmother’s treasured cucina casalinga with every person that pays a visit to to one of his famous eateries across Malta.
38
October 2021
DELICIOUS
What originally was meant to be an interview on la pinsa romana, quickly shifts to the current local food industry and the challenges it offers. Like many other food entrepreneurs, Fausto felt the bite from the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, this was a hell of a year for him. Airport lockdown and the closure of all entertainment outlets he saw his revenues plummet. And yet, the pandemic did not deter his goals, his vision and his plans. He kept on believing in his dreams and kept on striving to ensure a sustainable future for his projects and above all, his employees. Fausto is surely not short of energy, determination and above all, ideas. Yet no man is an island and human resources play a key role in the success of his ambitions. A major challenge, given the current industry’s shortage of manpower. Indeed, COVID has substantially aggravated skills shortages in the catering industry, prompting an exodus from the hospitality and catering industries, and in the cases of some foreign workers – from the country. “This has created a number of problems, where some establishments are closing on select days of the week, or having situations where customers are only being served hours after being seated,” Fausto explains. He also adds that many foreigners returned home and skilled Maltese who ended up without a job during the pandemic and couldn’t survive on the wage supplement left the industry, found an alternative job and are now reluctant to return. To make things worse skilled employees are being poached and offered wages he cannot match.
