We met Michele Lazzarini, the chef who is breathing new life into a small rural hamlet hidden in the mountains of Bergamo, Italy.

Originally from the small town of Gandellino, after working in a starred restaurant and traveling the world to discover new culinary traditions, Michele went back to his roots: the Seriana Valley.

Contrada Bricconi began as a regeneration project, and now it is a modern farmhouse and agritourism that manages to combine tradition and modernity.

Here, every day is different and flows to the rhythm of the surrounding nature: the menu and routine change with the season.

Current projects include a sustainable livestock farm, gardens to grow vegetables for the restaurant, and an ongoing work with small producers near the Contrada to promote local delicacies.