Valentín Ogea
Pizzaiolo at Luna Rossa, the Neapolitan trattoria in Malasaña that opened in 1994.
- Restaurants
- 1
Valentín Ogea is a pizzaiolo at Luna Rossa, the Neapolitan trattoria that founder Giuseppe Zucchini opened in October 1994 with the city's first Neapolitan-style wood-fired oven, built by artisans brought in from Naples. He works the kitchen alongside fellow pizzaiolo Cristian Ogea, with the restaurant run today by Anna Carla Zucchini, Cristian's wife and Giuseppe's daughter, who took over after her father's death.
Biography
Career
Valentín Ogea works as a pizzaiolo at Luna Rossa, a role central to preparing the restaurant's signature Neapolitan pizzas. His fellow pizzaiolo Cristian Ogea, who is married to Anna Carla Zucchini, also works the kitchen. Luna Rossa was opened in October 1994 by Anna Carla's father, Giuseppe Zucchini, who commissioned Neapolitan artisans to build Madrid's first wood-fired Neapolitan pizza oven, importing volcanic refractory stone, brick and special sand from Naples so the oven could reach around 450°C. After Giuseppe Zucchini died, Anna Carla took over the restaurant while still under 20, and today she directs it alongside Cristian Ogea, with Valentín leading the kitchen and Giuseppe Procentese running the floor. The restaurant marked its 30th anniversary in October 2024.
Philosophy
The kitchen prepares pizza on dough proved for more than 48 hours in the wood-fired oven, alongside the traditional, slow-cooked Italian recipes Anna Carla inherited from her father. The menu includes pizza frita, a fried Neapolitan pizza filled with ricotta, black pepper, tomato, basil and ciccioli, cooked with close attention to the oven's temperature.
Restaurants
Valentín Ogea in our guides
Editorial guides featuring Valentín Ogea’s restaurants.
Frequently asked
Who is Valentín Ogea?
Valentín Ogea is a pizzaiolo at Luna Rossa, the Neapolitan trattoria on Calle de San Bernardo that opened in 1994.
What makes Luna Rossa notable?
Opened in October 1994, it was the first restaurant in Madrid with a Neapolitan-style wood-fired oven, built by artisans brought in from Naples.
Where is Luna Rossa located?
On Calle de San Bernardo in Madrid's Malasaña neighbourhood.
Who runs Luna Rossa today?
Anna Carla Zucchini runs it with her husband, pizzaiolo Cristian Ogea, with Valentín Ogea leading the kitchen and Giuseppe Procentese running the floor.
How old is Luna Rossa?
It opened in October 1994 and marked its 30th anniversary in October 2024.
What's on the menu at Luna Rossa besides pizza?
Traditional, slow-cooked Italian dishes inherited from the founder, plus pasta and Italian wines by the glass, alongside pizza frita, a fried Neapolitan pizza filled with ricotta, black pepper, tomato, basil and ciccioli.