This is the fourth in the series of articles with the title “Barga at night” – the hidden side of Barga that people generally don’t see. The idea is to follow and document people who are working while most of us are sound asleep in our beds. We started the series on a sweet note following the Lucchesi brothers in the Pasticceria Lucchesi down in Barga Giardino. We continue that theme by calling back on the Fratelli Lucchesi, this time as they prepared some of their famous hand made chocolate ready for Easter.

The award-winning barganews photographer O’Connor lost yet another  night’s sleep as he closely followed the Lucchesi brothers through their working day which started once again with a strong black coffee at 3 a.m. and continued till dawn, into the day and right through until 3 pm the following afternoon.

In the week running up to Easter, every single minute of the day counts and they are using all of them – working non stop with just a couple of hours break for some snatched sleep before once again getting back in the kitchens.

In the 48 hours before the photographer arrived to document their work, they had already prepared and shaped 120 kilos of top quality Belgium Callebaut chocolate* into eggs, figures and objects all ready for sale in their adjacent pasticceria.

The two brothers Paolo and Fabio Lucchesi have been in this business for many years following on a family tradition started by their father and uncle who used to run the Onesti bar back in the early 70s. They then moved their operations twice over the years before finally starting up the present Bar and Pasticceria Lucchesi five years ago in 2003 (that article can be seen here) where they make chocolate and pastries in their own bakery and specialist kitchens.

Last year the City of Barga gave its highest honour, the Premio San Cristoforo d’Oro to the Lucchesi brothers. (article here) Named for Barga’s ancient patron, Saint Christopher, the award is presented to celebrate extraordinary contributions to the town and its people.   On a far more frivolous note – they also won the Best Toilet of the year award 2004 (article here)

*Callebaut is a Belgian company and a major producer of chocolate for consumers and for professional chocolatiers – their site is here