In a restaurant, every detail contributes to telling a story. Not only the dishes, ingredients and service, but also the objects that accompany the guest experience. It is from this belief that the project for La Preséf’s menu holders was born, a journey that led us to discover one of the most authentic expressions of contemporary Alpine craftsmanship: Pedù Original.
The initial idea was simple yet ambitious: to create a unique menu holder, capable of representing our territory in an authentic way, while preserving the elegance and contemporary character that define La Preséf, without compromising practicality and ease of use. During the first stages of development, different materials were considered, from leather to stone, in search of the perfect balance between identity, aesthetics and functionality.
Yet one essential element was still missing: a material capable of conveying warmth to the touch and harmonizing with the atmosphere of the dining room, in dialogue with the wood furnishings, the table linens and the uniforms created by Sartoria Rosalba.
The turning point came while defining the service attire. Meeting the creators of Pedù Original proved to be a decisive moment. The velvet that characterizes these iconic Alpine shoes and the distinctive binding of their upper immediately stood out for their aesthetic strength and their ability to express a territory through the language of craftsmanship.
From this inspiration emerged the idea of reinterpreting a traditional object and transforming it into something new. The concept was enthusiastically shared and developed together with Thomas Bardea, whose collaboration helped bring the project to life.
The first phase involved the creation of prototypes using the same brown velvet featured in Pedù Original footwear. This material was paired with a more rigid internal structure, while details such as the visible binding were directly inspired by the construction techniques of the shoes themselves. The result is an object that is simple yet meaningful, capable of evoking the Alpine world without relying on unnecessary decorative elements.
Over time, the project became an integral part of La Preséf’s visual identity. The velvet colour initially selected for the menu holders evolved into a reference point for other elements of the dining room, helping to create a harmonious dialogue between materials, fabrics, uniforms and table settings.
It is a detail that many guests may notice only subconsciously. Yet it is precisely through details like these that the philosophy of La Preséf is expressed: enhancing the territory through contemporary research, creating connections between people and crafts, and giving new life to traditions without altering their essence.
Because even a menu holder can tell the story of a mountain.
