Lavitola's restaurant regulars: from Bobo Craxi to Patty Pravo

Valter Lavitola, owner of the Monteverde restaurant Cefalù, is at the center of a gastro-political-judicial inquiry, following reports that he hosted not only friends but also journalists from the investigative program "Report."

Journalists from "Report" told Corriere della Sera that they saw Lavitola, an ex-fixer, frequenting their newsroom in Via Teulada, Rome, or its vicinity at least three to four times. While initial checks show only one access pass under his name from 2021, further investigations are ongoing.

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Lavitola did not influence any of our investigations. At Report, journalists work autonomously on their pieces and Sigfrido has always guaranteed us maximum freedom and independence.

The situation raises questions about potential influence peddling. Paolo Corsini, director of Rai's in-depth programming, suggested that individuals seeking to resolve issues with "Report" would dine at Lavitola's establishment. Giorgio Mottola, a lead reporter for "Report," however, asserted that Lavitola never influenced their investigations and that the journalists worked with complete freedom and independence, guaranteed by editor Sigfrido Ranucci.

The article paints a picture of Rome's political scene, where discussions and deals often happen over meals. Writer Fulvio Abbate, a regular at Cefalù, commented on the unfolding situation, comparing it to a philosophical paradox. Abbate, who wrote a book with Bobo Craxi titled "Gauche caviar, how to save socialism with irony," is a known patron of the restaurant.

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This story of the attack for love is incredible: it's like the fable of Zhuang Zhou who in the end didn't know if he dreamed of being a butterfly or if a butterfly was now dreaming of being Zhuang Zhou.