An Italian chef's encounter with Guizhou cuisine

Simone and his family own an Italian restaurant in Guiyang. [Photo/ddcpc website]

After 10 years of living in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province, Curti Simone from Italy, known to the locals as Ma Chao, reflects on his culinary journey.

Simone's passion for cooking led him to transition from being a renewable energy engineer to a chef. Italy, known for its cuisine, inspired Simone to pursue traditional culinary training under renowned local chefs.

When Simone and his wife, Ma Lina, decided to move to China and settle down, Simone decided to hone his skills in business management at Michelin-starred restaurants in Beijing and Shanghai. Currently, he and his wife run an Italian restaurant named Dolce Amore in Guiyang.

Guiyang, known for its spicy food, posed a unique challenge for Simone. He preserves the authenticity of traditional Western dishes while still catering to local tastes. One ingredient Simone particularly adores and utilizes is yellow beef from Guizhou's Guanling county.

Simone is eager to explore and try more of Guizhou's unique dishes, thus further enriching his food journey in Guiyang.