Beyond 'Tortellini' Bologna has a new food delicacy: Rossella's Padlocks

In Bologna Tortellini are inviolable but since today Bolognese food tradition gets enriched with a new symbol: Rossella's Padlocks.

This is the name Bologna-based Master Chef Vincenzo Proto, coming from Amalfi coast, gave to his original recipe celebrating Bologna Singles Bridge and its 'Inventor' Rossella Regina.

The Singles Bridge is a sort of opposite version of Ponte Milvio in Rome, where lovers began to hang their padlocks almost 20 years ago after Federico Moccia's book publishing Tre Metri Sopra il Cielo. This Bolognese Single-version, instead, was anonimously launched by Rossella Regina, a well-known Bologna-based Journalist and Singer (coming from Calabria) that in January 2025 only declared to be Maker.

Everything started online with a dedicated Social account, some Press Releases and on site with a first shy padlock hung in Via Oberdan, where the so called Single's Bridge is... Few days after and the City of Bologna had a new phenomenon to deal with: love-locks. Lately few public debates about padlocks and their disturbing effect along Via Oberdan so that Rossella closed that creative chapter forever... This was what she was convinced to do, at that time.

But it turned to be only a 20 years long silence during which Rossella's initiative exploded into a real Tourist Attraction for the City of Bologna. Then, lately, a strong love disappointment, as she declared, a solitary walk around the city passing in front of her forgotten Single's Bridge and the final intuition and consideration to reveal her truth that literally captured the City attention.

Because of this, Master Chef Vincenzo Proto decided to create a new special recipe: Rossella's Padlocks that are Thick Spaghetti with red turnip sauce, pranws tartare and pistachio grains served with edible wildflowers.

They are simply a Table Masterpiece deeply gratifying and touching me but, above all, telling the strong devotion Vincenzo has while creating his recipe supported by the love of his family working together with him in their Restaurant in Bologna.

Rossella said.

The recipe is everyday sold-out in Proto's Family Restaurant La Praia as Rosy and Federica, Vincenzo's daughters, besides Alfonso, his son, and Gelsomina, his wife, happily admitted:

Both here in our Restaurant or take-away, Rossella's Padlocks recipe catched the attention of our Clients that are deepling appreciating our new dish

I'm really happy everybody likes 'My Padlocks' and in view of that fact that Bologna City Major hasn't decided yet if accepting my proposal for an official plaque identifying the Singles Bridge as the Tourist Attraction it really is, I'd like inviting him to join me and taste Vincenzo's delicacy.

Rossella again.

Rossella hopes her invitation to Bologna City Major Matteo Lepore doesn't get misinterpreted considering the fact that whatever the Major decides the Singles Bridge IS already what the asked plaque should officialize only.

In the meantime, Rossella's native village in Southern Italy Calabria, Laino Borgo, and next village Laino Castello, have already accepted her proposal to replicate Bolognese Singles' Bridge there too.

And the same probably will happen also in Lagonegro, next to two 'Lainos' but in Basilicata region already, where a previous local train bridge tragically famous for suicides, Ponte Serra, could finally change its bad fame getting transformed into a love and re-birth symbol.

But Rossella's love padlocks' tale hasn't finished yet. Soon, in fact, a known Barman Celestino Salmi will launch a cocktail dedicated to Bologna Singles' Bridge while Inventor Alessandro Guccini is working on a still secret bio-padlock that could radically change Worldwide Story of Love Padlocks.

What is going to happen more? Looking at recently past events, we can imagine more and more padlocks' affairs...