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'My intent is to create a spirit of happiness through food'

Al Fresco is among the most popular Italian eateries in Dubai

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Al Fresco is an award-winning Italian trattoria with a sunny outdoor terrace, located on the second floor of Crowne Plaza Dubai. From intimate settings to an authentic menu, the restaurant has won the hearts of its patrons. It has been voted Dubai's best Italian restaurant for several years running. The scrumptious starters, main courses and desserts are creative pursuits of its team of chefs, ably lead by Head Chef Gabriele Pezzimenti, who passionately works on individual dishes to wow diners of various nationalities.
Gabriele Pezzimenti has been in the F&B industry for over 16 years. Starting at 15, cooking and food have been his lifelong passions. At 31, he is well renowned in the industry and is creating Italian mojo at Crowne Plaza Dubai as the Junior Executive Sous-Chef. "While I have travelled the world, Dubai has always fascinated me. It is challenging and a cultural melting pot, but above all, it is a place that allows you to express yourself," says Pezzimenti.
"We offer a selection of extravagant delights from Italy and the Mediterranean. Be it quick business lunches or a romantic dinner for two, we prepare simple, traditional and authentic Italian dishes that delight every time. Creating a cosy and comfortable ambience, we are popular in Dubai for our food and feel-factor," Pezzimenti told Khaleej Times.
Pezzimenti, who values authenticity and style, has brought in fresh ideas and creativity to Al Fresco. "When I joined the restaurant, I innovated with food as per my style. While we have been creative with techniques, we have ensured that we are 100 per cent authentic with our ingredients. Pairing and the process of rustling up appetising dishes are equally important to us," he added.

Spice up your dish As a chef, you learn the process of cooking from scratch. The processes are similar, no matter what cuisine you cook. So if you know the processes of cooking, you can basically cook any type of cuisine. The crucial part is then to get the spices right to achieve an authentic taste.

Growing up with Italian food tradition, Pezzimenti waxes eloquent, "A lot of my childhood and family memories are linked with Italian food. Family dinners, home style cooking and the aroma of ingredients. My grandfather used to cook real south Italian food and it was he who inspired me to become a chef. I will never forget the moments of seeing him cook with love and passion."
Counting rice as one of his favourite ingredients, the Head Chef of Al Fresco continues, "You can play with it in many ways; change its character, consistency and flavour. With the same ingredient you can make completely different dishes. Rice can be a side or main dish. You can even use it for soups or desserts. For me rice is very versatile and goes perfect with meat, fish and vegetables alike."

Focus on freshness

Frequented by regulars who come by for lunch and dinner, often with their associates, Al Fresco has become very popular with families as well. "It is our emphasis on freshness and the quality of ingredients that draws people. My previous experience at a Michelin-star restaurant in Italy has taught me the importance of discipline - both on the job and in terms of ingredients. Here we mostly rely on quality suppliers who provide us with items produced in Italy and the UAE," he noted.
Explaining what happens behind the scenes, when he is in the kitchen, Pezzimenti notes, "My day usually starts early when suppliers deliver new products. I personally receive and check the delivery to ensure its quality meets our expectations. We only source the best products in terms of quality and availability. Some items like truffles and porcini mushrooms are available during certain months of the year. With such high-class products, quality is the key.
After receiving the items, I review our ingredients and prepare what we need for the day. All our pasta is homemade, so it has to be prepared before the restaurant opens for lunch. During service hours, I try to be in touch with our guests as much as possible. I make it a point to personally take some orders, give recommendations and get our guests feedback."
Elaborating on the restaurant's seasonal specialities (in 2016), Pezzimenti explained, "This year we had different promotions with additional menus that were offered on top to our main menu. The first promotion was about the northern Italian regions, followed by central Italian regions and southern Italian regions. Now we have the Best Of Italy, which combines the bestsellers of these three promotions in one menu."

Value for money

Al Fresco is popular for its two-course business lunches where the menu changes daily. "We offer excellent value for money in terms of both quality and portions. Guests keep coming back because we create zestful menus based on the availability of fresh products. While improving on the food, we try and balance the pricing to give opportunity to everyone, offering a unique food experience without over-pricing our menu," he added.
It is exactly this delectable food experience that Al Fresco offers, which has made it a hit with diners. "My intent is to create a spirit of happiness in our guests through authentic food. The perfection of Italian cuisine has always stayed in me because it is in my blood. Wherever I go in the world, I carry it along. At Al Fresco I help translate this passion into preparing a delectable food fare, which will make you keep coming back," Pezzimenti concluded.  

- sadiq@khaleejtimes.com