Lavinia Frasinescu opens Ottovivo vegan eatery in Empoli
Lavinia Frasinescu Opens Ottovivo in Via Roma
“Joy on the plate,” raw chef Lavinia Frasinescu told La Nazione, describing the guiding philosophy behind her new business.
Lavinia Frasinescu, along with her husband Cristian Frasinescu and their son Edoardo, opened Ottovivo today in Empoli. Located at the former site of Rosario Guarino’s Orto in via Roma, the establishment marks the city’s first entirely vegan restaurant, as reported by La Nazione and Zazoom.it. The new activity condenses a lifetime of professional and family experience, with a cuisine based on plant-based and raw ingredients.
From Law Studies to Plant-Based Cuisine
The 41-year-old entrepreneur, born in Romania and a longtime resident of Italy, initially shifted her career due to health reasons. That dietary change resolved multiple personal health challenges, prompting her to abandon a path in jurisprudence and immerse herself in plant-based culinary training at Matthew Kenney’s PlantLab in California. She subsequently spent five years managing a successful vegan restaurant and dessert shop in Bucharest before relocating her professional and family life to Empoli. Explaining the move, she noted that since their home is there, they wanted to offer the community what they felt was missing: a vegan restaurant intended to intrigue a broader audience rather than just serve as a simple alternative.
Family Choices and Menu Design
The restaurant’s name originates from a family brainstorm. Their son Edoardo selected “Ottovivo,” combining the concept of infinity represented by the number eight with the vitality of living, easily digestible raw foods. The daily operations involve five employees, with potential for future staff expansion. The menu features whole-grain flours, various homemade pasta dishes, three distinct burger options designed to appeal to younger diners, and internationally inspired plant-based plates accompanied by creamy, sugar-free vegan desserts. Gluten-free options are available to meet growing dietary demands. Aiming to dispel the notion that vegan cuisine is monotonous or full of renunciations, the enterprise features accessible prices and dishes suitable for different occasions, ranging from a quick lunch to an outing with friends.
Opening Event Leads to Daily Dinner Service
The opening event begins at 5:00 PM with institutional remarks, followed by appetizers and tastings across three distinct dining areas inside the venue. Starting the following day, Ottovivo will welcome the public with continuous operating hours from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM.