Pepenero tells the story of the two places chef Giorgio Lo Greco considers home: Palermo, Sicily and Traverse City, Michigan. It starts with the memory of the family, the deliciousness prepared by mother, grandmother, aunts and uncle; past experiences. ‘ It comes from my youth memories in Bagheria, home of so many rural culinary traditions where seafood is at its best, the experience and memories gained while working in my uncle’s trattoria ‘Trattoria Don Ciccio”, and in Palermo, city of such a popular gastronomic culture. Everything, then, has been filtered by travel memories bringing new knowledge and techniques, local ingredients and my personal touch and creativity.‘
While keeping the original state of all found pieces of history of the Kirkbride hall building , we have transformed the first floor of the original chapel of the old state hospital into a place with a warm, elegant and relaxing atmosphere. Visiting Pepenero is one of the most direct ways to soak in the atmosphere of today’s Italy. for those who choose to dine with us, Pepenero gives you not only an atmosphere of modern elegance, but also a journey into the most genuine and authentic flavors of italy with an emphasize on Sicily.
Giorgio Lo Greco – Chef Owner – PepeNero