 I would count myself as a food lover, along with most of the people I know. But when I'm not either preparing or eating it, I give it very little thought. Vito Ferro is a man whose whole existence revolves around his love of food. From his childhood in Apulia, Italy, through later years spent in France and Switzerland, whilst running his Michelin 'fork and knife' awarded Portofino restaurant in Kenilworth and now, in his new venture Vito's, in Knowle, Vito has put his heart and soul into sharing that love with others. We had gone along to Vito's on a dreary Tuesday night in January to shake off those winter blues. It seems quite a few others had the same idea; the restaurant was a lot busier than we expected. Hardly surprising really when you consider that the atmosphere at Vito's is so friendly and welcoming that you feel like more like a guest than a customer. We were welcomed by Vito himself, although it could just have easily been one of the Italian waiters, and seated in the small lounge area where we were served drinks and presented with complimentary olives and breadsticks while we perused the menu. And what a menu it is! With no less than 20 starters and a dozen main courses to choose from as well as the daily specials, we found it almost impossible to choose (starters range from £2.30 to £6.50, or you can choose any starter as a main course for £8.90 and mains are from £10.90 to £16.90). Eventually, we decided on starters to share; a plate of mixed bruschetta (with toppings which included mozzarella and basil, roasted vegetables with Parmesan and mushrooms) along with a dish of marinated olives and mushrooms in garlic. The main course choice, in comparison, was easy. The special was a Devonshire rack of lamb cooked in red wine that neither of us could resist, and we chose a selection of seasonal vegetables and potatoes to accompany it. The starters were fabulous, a good choice, the bruschetta's mixture of toppings worked really well together, and the mushroom and olive platter was also delicious, the highlight for me being the mushrooms which were among the best I've ever tasted. The main course had a lot to live up to, and did so with ease. Cooked on the bone but served off it, the lamb was beautifully presented and tasted every bit as good as it looked. The house red wine recommended was perfect, both with and without the lamb! Sadly neither of us could manage dessert or cheese. While we finished with coffee Vito joined us for a chat. It's obvious from talking to the owner that not only is his love of cooking second only to his love for his family, but that the two are deeply intertwined. Vito's grandmother and mother before him were great cooks, and now Vito's daughter can often be found in the kitchen too. These days Vito leaves much of the cooking to his Italian chefs, Gianni and Mario, preferring instead to use his expertise in creating the regularly changing menus using the best seasonal and local produce available. Everything at Vito's is freshly prepared so if there's something you don't like it can be left out. And it's prepared the Italian way: "We cook the food simply, as we would for ourselves at home" says Vito. So if, like me, you love traditional Italian food but don't have any Italian friends to cook for you, try Vito's - it's the next best thing. Vito's Restaurant 5 St John's Way, Knowle, Solihull B93 0LE 01564 739 395 www.vitosrestaurant.co.uk
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