A visiting Italian senator had a request for Montgomery’s latest downtown restaurant: Skip the sauces. Keep it simple. Just traditional Italian food. Sen. Massimo Mallegni brought along some help to make that happen. Chef Gianluca Tolla, who won a culinary contest in Tuscany, came here to work with Vintage Year and Ravello chef Eric Rivera on techniques for the dishes.

The two collaborated at Vintage Year in Cloverdale this week and stood side-by-side Wednesday at a groundbreaking for Ravello. It’ll be an upscale Italian eatery in the former City Federal Savings & Loan Building at 36 Commerce Street, but the opening is still a year away. The 1925 structure is still being redesigned and restored. Plans call for marble floors, an event space, a ballroom, a court yard and a wine cellar.