Chef Niko Romito Reinvents Italy's Roadside Dining | Bon Appétit

"A retro‑futuristic roadside rest stop concept created by chef Niko Romito in partnership with Enilive, designed to bring elevated, scalable versions of Italian street food to travelers. The bright, colorful, comfortable spaces serve healthy takes on simple favorites—generously portioned made‑to‑order sandwiches, crisp sourdough focaccia, tomato‑soaked polpette and aperitivo staples—alongside a signature fried chicken that is steamed at 154°C, herb‑marinated and pressure‑fried for 10 minutes to lock in moisture and keep the meat tender and light. Sweet and savory bomba (a bombolone inspired by Romito’s father) are made with natural yeast and extra‑virgin olive oil, tested and partially prepared in Romito’s lab and finished to order. The concept also accommodates modern travel needs (including charging for hybrid and electric cars) and aims to revive and modernize the autogrill tradition by combining culinary rigor, large‑scale reproducibility, and a mix of modernity and tradition as it expands beyond Italy." - ByLindsey Tramuta