Italian guest chef prepares ‘Aperi-Dinner’ at Seda Hotel, BGC

MANILA, Philippines -Seda Hotels introduces an Italian Aperi-Dinner or apericena as it is called in Italy, with guest chef Giovan Giuseppe Ferrandino until March 22, at Seda BGC’s Straight Up roof deck bar.

 Seda Hotels’ Italian group general manager Andrea Mastellone says, “Seda is the first hotel to introduce this concept in the Philippines and we are proud that Chef Giovan, who has worked in various Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, is helping us present the event.”

Chef Giovan is based in Genova, Italy and has worked not only in his home country but also in Germany, France, Monaco and Switzerland. At Straight Up in Seda BGC, he will showcase an apericena buffet of tapas-style dishes including stuffed mozzarella, crostinis, pizzas, pastas, open-faced quiche, and even goulash and crepes.

Mastellone explains that the word apericena combines the Italian word for appetizer, aperitivo, with cena (dinner). The concept started as a prelude to dinner, but today, more than 16,000,000 Italians flock to Italy’s upscale cafes to indulge in this buffet of light dishes as a substitute for dinner, while enjoying the company of friends and colleagues. Seda BGC’s version will feature as many as 40 appetizers drawing from international cuisines, matched by an excellent array of Italian wines.

 Chef Giovan will also make the tagliolini pasta, as well as the lasagna, and prepare the well-loved carbonara using cream of cereal instead of the usual dairy variety.

All these and more, will be available a la carte for lunch at Misto. Chef Giovan will be assisted by Seda BGC’s Filipino-Italian chef, Anna Finato Galzignato, ín close coordination with the hotel’s executive chef Romualdo “Pepe” Castillo.

After Seda BGC, chef Giovan will fly to Seda Abreeza, Davao City and Seda Centrio, Cagayan de Oro City which will run the Italian food promotion at Misto; while Seda Nuvali will have its turn in mid-May, 2014.