Italian Chef Starts Business in Chongqing Creating International Atmosphere with Italian Cuisine

□ Edited by Lovia Agyemang

Italian Chef Starts Business in Chongqing Creating International Atmosphere with Italian Cuisine

□ Edited by Lovia Agyemang

The rapid development of Chongqing has attracted many international friends， which has made this city "entrepreneurial" for foreigners. Many foreigners are establishing their business here； the city has attracted many foreigners not just for tourism but also as a place to venture.

Food has always been a passion for Italian Chef Alex. He's worked in restaurants in London and Switzerland since he was 19. He came to Shanghai nine years ago where he met his wife from Sichuan. He has now settled in Chongqing where his story begins.

In Chongqing he worked in hotels like Sheraton, Hyatt Regency Grand as head chef. With hard work and determination, he now owns his own restaurant. When asked about the reason for opening an Italian restaurant in Chongqing he said, his intention is to bring the most authentic Italian cuisine to Chongqing. “I remember when I came to Chongqing 5 years ago, there were not many foreigners or foreign restaurants and it was hard to find an authentic Italian restaurant.” Getting accustomed to the local food was not easy. When he felt nostalgic and felt like eating Western food, he had to cook it by himself. Over time, he came up with an idea, why not opening an Italian restaurant of his own? This way, not only the Chongqing people can enjoy Western food, but foreigners who were in Chongqing. With this in mind, Alex and his wife finally opened their fi rst homemade Italian restaurant in Nanping District, which has now become very popular in the region.

In the beginning, juggling with being a chef in other restaurants and taking care of his own restaurant was a problem, but due to the willingnessof his wife to learn and help, he was able to teach her simple cuisines that enabled her to run their restaurant.

Alex’s restaurant has for many years attracted both locals and foreigners in Nanping and the rest of Chongqing. It has become a small community of international exchange, where locals and foreigners readily interact. The restaurant has been well received and gained recognition in Chongqing, which Alex is very proud of.

Upon his success with the fi rst restaurant, Alex has opened a second restaurant in Jiefangbei, which he has now devoted his time, working fulltime. Even though it is a challenge to get all the ingredients for Italian cuisines in Chongqing, he tries his best to maintain and acquire the original Italian flavors, especially the flour for making pizza. “Chongqing is a city of great potential and becoming more international. Also, the younger generations are exploring different cultures and trying new things, so many loves foreign foods and readily visits his restaurant. In his opinion, Chongqing is a rising city with lots of business opportunities.

When it comes to life in Chongqing, Alex said, the city gives him a sense of relaxation and warmth just like being in his Hometown, “My hometown is in the Northeast of Italy near Venice, where people live in single detached households, in very quite neighborhoods with shops being closed before midnight, this is different from the busy streets and atmosphere in Chongqing.”

Most foreigners who live in Chongqing find it difficult due to the cultural differences and the language, however Alex has conformed to the city and its people. He is used to the life in Chongqing and enjoys having his family and career here.

As a Western-style chef, Alex loves spicy food and Hotpot without exception; he believes that eating hot pot is very interesting and creative, which also meets the Italian taste. He also loves Chongqing spicy noodles. Pasta is a special delicacy in Italy and closely related to noodles; therefore Alex enjoys the different types of noodles in Chongqing.

When asked about his favorite food in Chongqing, Alex said he loved huiguorou (twicecooked pork). He went to all lengths to learn how to cook it from a Chinese chef he once worked with. When asked to describe the taste when he cooks it, he humbly said in Chinese "ma ma hu hu (so-so)". “Although I'm a chef, it can be diffi cult to grasp the true technique of cooking Chinese food.” he said.

Running a business in Chongqing is very challenging but “rewarding”. For him, Chongqing marks the beginning of starting his own business so as every businessman; he tries his hardest to succeed just like local entrepreneurs. He hopes the city continues to grow and attract many foreigners to help bring more cultural and culinary options, to make Chongqing more international.

重慶市政協副主席張玲（右）、新任匈牙利駐渝總領事羅瀾先生（中）等出席招待會。

攝影/范青