Italian identity begins at the table and Made in Milan is its beating heart

The little box I always carry in my pocket, in which I keep pills and vitamins. My mother-in-law got it for me in Texas, it is made of a poor, aged metal; it is simple, but has its own line. For me it is a symbol of health and affection (Silver and yellow gold pillbox, Bean Collection, design by Elsa Peretti, Tiffany & CO., 2,300 euros, tiffany.co.uk).

Racchetta da tennis Pro Staff 97 V14, WILSON (320 €).

LAST OBJECT I PURCHASED AND LOVED

Wilson's Pro Staff 97 V14 tennis racket, which I bought recently and am very happy with. And a copper Viking frying pan, which follows me to homes in New York and Southampton. I mainly make pasta sauces with it, like the one with anchovies, parsley and capers (Pro Staff 97 V14 racket, 320 euros, at wilson.com; set of 9 Viking 4-layer copper-coated pans, $900, at vikingculinaryproducts.com).

And THE NEXT ONE THAT I'M TAKING ON

I almost never shop in the classical sense, focusing my thoughts on an object: it is limiting and I like to have my head clear. In shopping I am instinctive. When I walk down the street I look around and if I see something I like, I buy it. Usually, it's gifts.

The BEST GIFT I HAVE GIVEN.

The engagement ring for my wife, bought in New York on 47th Street. It is the street of diamond merchants, third generation Jews, with beautiful culture and history. I arrived at J. Kleinhaus & Sons on the recommendation of an acquaintance: from there, an exchange of ideas that lasted several weeks, although we only met in person three times. In the end, he mounted the diamond we chose together (jkleinhausandsons.com).

And WHAT I RECEIVED

A photo album with a silk thread cover that my daughter, a very creative girl, made for my 50th birthday by putting together photos of the family, but especially of the two of us - and this is what I liked most (album with silk cover, $600, at charmwoodalbums.com).

FAVORITE ROOM OF THE HOUSE

In both my homes, it is the bedroom: my point of peace and serenity, where I can leave my weapons behind. I have chosen important mattresses from the British brand Vispring, which I discovered at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles and later found at the Principe di Savoia in Milan. The sheets are strictly by Frette, in cotton (king-size mattress model Cashmere Superb, $37,000, at vispring.com; Affinity Lace bed set in cotton satin, €2,150, eu.frette.com).

“Man with a Feather (Self-Portrait)” (1943), di Lucian Freud. L’artista è al centro di un film che racconta la sua vita personale e creativa “Exhibition on Screen, Lucian Freud: A Self Portrait”. Prodotto da Seventh Art Productions, verrà trasmesso l’11 aprile al Columbus Museum of Art.

The WORK OF ART THAT INSPIRES ME

The portraits of Lucian Freud, the artist who touches me most: in his works I see both beauty and misery. A contrast that pleases and inspires me because it reminds me that in life these two things coexist. And that is fine.

THE ARTIST I WOULD COLLECT IF I COULD

Always Lucian Freud, of course.

Le torte in vetrina da Sant Ambroeus, a Milano.

LAST MEAL THAT IMPRESSED ME

I will mention two. The first in Milan, at my Sant Ambroeus. It was cooked by Chef Iacopo Falai, culinary director of the entire group (which includes 24 restaurants in the US and one in Italy) who is Tuscan like me. He prepared two dishes to evaluate for the menu: passatelli in broth and chicken with mustard sauce. Passatelli is a simple dish, but the quest to make the essential excellent is complex. In Florence, at Trattoria da Ruggero, I had an excellent steak with porcini mushrooms (santambroeus.com; Trattoria da Ruggero, via Senese 89r, Firenze).

IN MY Fridge NEVER LACKS.

I would talk more about my pantry. There are always first-class anchovies, usually of the Spanish Ortiz brand, in glass jars. And capers that arrive from Sicily via American distributors: they are often Recca. I do my shopping for food at Eataly or at the shop that supplies our restaurants, which import all their raw materials from Italy (conservasortiz.com; salt capers in glass jars, 2.65 euros, agostinorecca.com; eataly.com).

LAST MUSIC I DOWNLOADED

The Lou Reed Radio playlist on Spotify. While maintaining strong Italian roots, I am American: at the age of eight, I left Tuscany for Canada and then the United States (open.spotify.com).

A PLEASURE I COULDN'T GIVE UP.

Nature I find on walks with my dog, a Labrador named Lapo, on the beach in the Hamptons. The beaches on Long Island, like all those on the East Coast, are beautiful, white. You can swim from May to September: for those used to the Mediterranean, the water is very cold. The ocean has an incredible force, a completely different energy (for villas in the Hamptons overlooking the beach, sothebysrealty.com).

THOSE I TRUST FOR MY PERSONAL WELL-BEING.

My psychotherapist, a very close friend, and my wife. But look: three women...

Perfume oil No.05 Kandilli, Maison Louis Marie (15 ml, 65 $).

The BEAUTY PRODUCT THAT NEVER LACKS.

A perfumed oil that only takes a few drops on the wrists: the perfume oil No.05 Kandilli by Maison Louis Marie (15 ml, $65, at maisonlouismarie.com).

Una strada di Soho, a Manhattan.

IF I HAD TO LIMIT MY SHOPPING TO A CITY DISTRICT, I WOULD CHOOSE...

Soho, in Manhattan, where artists used to land because they could live on the cheap. The neighbourhood developed around that energy and even though it has changed a lot there are still interesting shops, especially craft and avant-garde brands. One of my favourites is the designer James Perse, who used to be found only here and is now all over the States: I buy some of my wardrobe basics there. For clothing, I also go to Thom Sweeney. Then, there are nice furniture shops: Bddw has creations by artisans from Pennsylvania and Brooklyn, I got my chairs and dining room table here (cashmere V-neck jumper, 530 euros, jamesperse.com; thomsweeney.com; bddw.com).

“La macchia umana”, di Philip Roth, 13,50 €, su ibs.it.

The BOOK I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO WRITE

Definitely one by Philip Roth. Perhaps The Human Stain. Roth tells a good story about America, about the condition of a man who may have an important career, but is, in reality, extremely fragile. He talks about fundamental themes: love, man, woman, human nature (EUR 13.50, on ibs.co.uk).

La lobby dell’Hotel Savoy di Firenze.

THE HOTELS I LOVE MOST

There are four. The Bel-Air in Los Angeles, because it pays sober attention to its customers and is surrounded by nature. The Hassler in Rome, where you can still breathe in a glorious past and the rooms have an incredible view over the city. The Bulgari in Milan, because it guarantees a very understated luxury experience: I am talking about the part where the rooms are, because I never go to the bar, which I know is well-known in the city. The Savoy in Florence, which for me is simply home (Bel-Air, from $1,745, dorchestercollection.com; Hassler Roma, from €1,340, hotelhasslerroma.com; Bulgari Milano, from €1,450, bulgarihotels.com; Savoy Firenze, from €630, roccofortehotels.com).

MUSEUM OR GALLERY THAT I CONSIDER MOST INTERESTING

I go to the Whitney in New York regularly, partly because it is so close to my home. It makes me proud that an Italian like Renzo Piano designed it (Henry Taylor: B side, until 28 January, whitney.org).

Via Torino, a Milano.

An UNFORGETTABLE PLACE WHERE I TRAVELED DURING LAST YEAR

Milan. Ever since we opened the Sant Ambroeus restaurant in November 2022, I have been going back there every two months for a fortnight and that is how I got to know it. I like walking aimlessly through its streets, admiring its architecture - especially the architecture of the 1930s and the wonderful entrances of the residential buildings.

If I DID NOT DO WHAT I DO I WOULD LIKE TO BE...

A musician or a singer. I would like to play the electric guitar, the piano, any instrument... I don't, but I like music very much: along with food, it is the most constant thing in my life.