Sicilian Style

Inspired by European street food vendors, Speck combines fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and a playful atmosphere to introduce visitors to tastes from around the world, bringing people together to establish Italy’s long-held tradition of gathering around food, right here in Cape Girardeau.

Growing up in Milan, Speck owner Gabriele Ruggieri spent many afternoons riding through the Italian countryside with his father, a postman. Together on the mail route, they tasted the best and freshest street food from vendors throughout the region.

It’s those afternoons spent with his father eating food together that inspired Ruggieri to open Speck. Speck is a smoked Italian meat cured in Alpine air, a regional food that became the obvious namesake for a restaurant that brings the most authentic flavors from Italy to Southeast Missouri.

At Speck, Ruggieri serves pizza from a custom-made, wood-fire brick oven shipped from Italy, pizza made with unbleached, slow-ground flour imported from the best farm in Naples. He offers an espresso bar with a full pastry shop. And visitors are invited to top it all off with gelato from one of Milan’s most famous pastry shops known for their organic ingredients and historic roots.

See our feature in the SE Missourian