SYDNEY institution Beppi’s is back on the city’s hot list – and it’s all thanks to Pink and the restaurant’s to-die-for minestrone.
The American superstar dined at the East Sydney Italian restaurant in August while she was in town for her sell-out tour and she immediately tweeted about her experience.
She even signed the guestbook, begging owner Giuseppe Polese, 85, who opened the famed eatery with his wife Norma in 1956, to move to LA.
Pink’s rave review sparked a celebrity stampede – Rihanna was a guest on Sunday night, describing it as “hands down the best food in Australia” – making Beppi’s the place to be seen.
Other famous diners in recent months include Rob Thomas, Guy Sebastian and actors Geoffrey Rush and Jerry Lewis.
But Pink’s endorsements didn’t stop last August – her multiple tweets to her 950,000 Twitter followers about Beppi’s and recipes she has tried from the restaurant’s cookbook, including her frustration at being unable to replicate that minestrone, have injected spice into what remains one of the city’s most revered and discreet diners.
Hundreds of fans have bombarded the restaurant, wanting to know what their secret ingredient is.
“You can’t really measure the impact of what Pink has done for us but it has certainly raised our profile in the new generation, which has been wonderful for us,” said Marc Polese, son of Giuseppe.
“We have a very loyal base of customers but Pink and all her followers have re-enforced and opened us up to a fifth generation of fans through Twitter.
“We sent her our cookbook, she posted a thanks and we had even more response.”
Since opening 54 years ago, Beppi’s has attracted megastars including Frank Sinatra, Shirley Bassey, astronaut Neil Armstrong and Kerry Packer.
Thanks: P-I-N-K-P-I-M-P
