A voyage over an emerald sea, past characteristic coves and the popular beaches of white sand, Sardinia is an island that strikes its visitors with natural contrasts; a region that boasts old traditions and a wild and pure nature. Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, it is a mainly mountainous region, with a vast and charming yet bittersweet natural environment.

In 2010, chef Roberto Petza moved his restaurant S’Apposentu from the city of Calgiari to the heart of the countryside in a small village called Siddi, once famous for a giant pasta factory which closed in 1996, leaving the area with a population of just 100. It was awarded a Michelin Star in 2013 and has been awarded the Tre Forchette Gambero Rosso, which recognises S’Apposentu as one of the twenty-three best restaurants in Italy.

The restaurant is situated in an historic palace still owned by the president of the former pasta factory. Built in 1900, the building is enclosed within its own estate, with a small courtyard and farm at the back of the building where Roberto grows his own vegetables and keeps his resident donkey and goats. S’Apposentu literally means ‘the best living room in the house’ in Sardinian, and inside echoes the style and characteristics of Roberto himself, with handmade furniture made by the chef and pictures from local artists. There is an air of calm within the warm and welcoming environment.

Chef Roberto and his team have maintained the ability to interpret the territory and its raw materials in the most authentic way, using local farmers just five minutes from the restaurant and even making their own cheese; being in a remote location means they have to be self-sufficient in every way. Each dish is a story and the ingredients – lamb, pork, poultry, herbs, grains, legumes and cheeses – tell of an ancient and honest earth. The story then continues in the vast, clear Sardinian sea with fish that the chef personally selects from the wonderful market in Cagliari.