About
Strega is an authentic Italian restaurant, pizzeria and bar located on a bustling corner in the heart of downtown Milford.
Our concept is modern, relaxed and reflects the Italy we are from.
WHY THE NAME STREGA?
The name of the restaurant is inspired by the Legend of Janare of Benevento. Strega means ‘witch’ in Italian and Benevento is considered the “city of witches”. Even today, these women, called “janare”, from “dianare”, or “women priestesses of the goddess Diana” bestow upon Benevento an air of magic and intrigue.
The play between food and women dates back to prehistoric times. With meager ingredients to cook with and to feed their families, the women created simple and genuine dishes with simplicity and imagination. Often consisting of few ingredients, yet skillfully combined, their dishes have become renowned and have been passed down to us. The bread, the polenta, the cheeses, the soups and the list is endless.
Cooking is Magic, it is transformation, it is feeling.
It’s in this notion where we find compelling elements that reflect our concept at Strega. It was the women who took care of the gathering of food. As hunting for meat often was not always successful, it was herbs, fruit and roots collected by women that ensured nourishment. Soon, women began learning to recognize plant cycles and how to use them for eating and healing.
“Unguento, Unguento portaci al noce di Benevento per acqua e vento e per ogni maltempo.”
“Ointment, ointment get us to the walnut tree of Benevento for water and wind and in any bad weather”
The herbal knowledge of these women has been handed down to present times through the daily practices related to the preparation of foods and medicines used to care for their families. This knowledge was passed on from mother to daughter orally and as the true origins of these teachings was lost over time, this knowledge was attributed to revelation of divine origin. They were bestowed by the goddesses of the elements, by demigods dedicated to priestly and divinatory practices or to the magical arts.
These women were the first female physicians for the people, expert connoisseurs of nature, herbs and plants, who learned through practice and experience to use them for therapeutic and beneficial purposes.
Quickly their medicines, procured from Nature, became the only available remedies for the common folk which was often denied to them during the Medieval times. But specifically, these women worked for and together with other women assisting in childbirth and helping to alleviate suffering.
“Witches” are nothing more than women who, no different from other women, were marginalized due to their strangeness and their dedication to learning about natural elements, preparing elixirs and concoctions for healing the body, the mind and the heart.
It was in the use of herbs and the knowledge of nature and its cycles that was their “crime” in the eyes of the Church. They were judged guilty of simply wanting to explore the mysteries of divine creation and violating them.
It is precisely from the experience of these women that defines our idea of Strega. We are essentially like the energetic witch bursting forth with a thirst to find the meaning of life. We relish the irresistible impulse of the “witch” to be herself, independent of the others. And our aim is to draw upon, as she did, resources available to us and dipping deeply into wells from which abundance rises triumphantly to the surface.
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy at Strega is to bring the diner to the Italy that we know and love. Influenced by the traditions of several parts of the Italian peninsula, Strega is keen on creating a deeply authentic Italian experience. With a home-grown appreciation and knowledge of Italy’s historical and culinary past, we focus on imported Italian products and are committed to authenticity in our recipes and menu choices.
Our goal is to spread and make appreciate Italian products through our culinary art. Strega seduces and charms its guests through the spell of a healthy and authentic cuisine – a true elixir of love made at Strega.
The love for good food, for the tradition, for our Country, Strega’s mission is to protect the typical gastronomic heritage of Italy, the culture of traditional food and promote and enhance typical products of the Italian territory. Strega wants to create a virtuous circle where the old recipes, the hospitality and the special features of the area come together in a project that allows our guests to enjoy food cooked by Italian masters.
Strega is an Italian experience with intense design combinations, exceptional service and a fresh, authentic menu of Italian favorites and new creations. Strega represents all that is spectacular about Italy – the history, the passion and the fortitude of the country. A place that worships the food of Italy and replicates their original mastery.
News and Events
Throughout the year, we will be planning special events and offers.
Please leave us your contact information so you will be among the first to be invited!
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