Acqua

Mactan Shangri-La's new Italian toque

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Chef
Gianfranco Pirrone joins the culinary team at Shangri-La Mactan’s Resort and Spa in Cebu City as

the latest member
of the deluxe hotel’s Food and Beverage team; stationed in Acqua, the resort’s stylish
Italian restaurant, as its Italian Chef.

Gianfranco
Pirrone, known as Chef Franco, comes from the southern Italian region of
Sicily, where he developed an appreciation for cooking with fresh, healthy
ingredients. Growing up in a family of enthusiastic cooks, he quickly learned
the family recipes and clearly remembers that one of his very first lessons was
mastering the subtle art of seasoning.

It is from these
early lessons that Chef Franco developed his culinary philosophy. He believes
that no dish should taste ordinary and that a perfect balance of flavors should
be achieved every time. He considers himself a “creative perfectionist,”
drawing inspiration for new creations from ingredients on hand.

“In the existing
Acqua menu there are many dishes of my predecessor that are from North Italy. I
will keep some of the best dishes and I will complement these with my dishes
from South Italy because I want my guests to taste a full menu of Italy. I want
to let them travel my country from North to South,” shared the Sicilian head
toque.

The
ingredients used in any Sicilian cuisine are typically rich in taste while
remaining affordable to the general public. The savory dishes from
the Sicilian region are viewed to be healthy, using fresh vegetables and fruits, such as tomatoes, artichokes, olives (including olive
oil), citrus, apricots, aubergine, onions, beans, raisins and commonly coupled with sea food, freshly caught
from the surrounding coastlines, which include tuna, sea bream, sea
bass, cuttlefish, swordfish, and sardines; ingredients that can be easily sourced in a coastal city
like Cebu.

Chef Franco is
passionate about the experience of savoring food and delights in tailoring
dishes to guest preferences. He looks forward to infusing Acqua’s menu of
traditional Italian favorites with fresh Mediterranean influences, as well as
introducing some of his own specialties.

“I have come out with my new menu and dishes from Sicily
(where I am from) that will be highlighted here, together with Acqua’s current
specials. I would like to say that I bring tradition and love with recipes and
dishes shared by my family throughout many generations.

“I will try my best to have my team understand and appreciate
the culture of Italy. I will let them travel around Italy by trying food in all
different regions of my country. My menu has been proffered as part of the
restaurants many options, and periodically I will present an Italian promotion
featuring my signature dishes.”

Some of these
signature dishes, that guests and diners can look forward to, include the
creamy Risotto con Gamberi Profumato Allo Zafferano, that’s Arborio Rice with
Saffron, Prawns and Parmesan; and the hearty Gamberoni Grigliati Alla
Siciliana, a sumptuous plate of grilled tiger prawns in chili-garlic sauce
served with mixed vegetables and roasted potatoes.

Prior to joining the
Shangri-La family, Chef Franco served as the executive chef at a restaurant in
Rome, as well as several hotels in Asia and the Pacific, including properties
in Thailand, the Maldives and Myanmar. He began his culinary career in England
and Scotland.

For inquiries and
reservations, please contact Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu through
tel. no. (+32) 231-8224, or simply e-mail, fbreservations.mac@shangri-la.com.

Hong Kong-based
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and/or manages 80 hotels under the
Shangri-La, Kerry and Traders brands with a room inventory of over 32,000.
Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities
and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China,
Fiji, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives,
Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab
Emirates, and the Philippines. The group has a substantial development pipeline
with upcoming projects in mainland China, India, Mongolia, Qatar, Sri Lanka,
the United Kingdom, and here in the Philippines. For more information and
reservations, please contact a travel professional by accessing their Web site
at www.shangri-la.com.