The once-popular Italian restaurant Danieli's at the St. Regis Beijing had been secluded from foodies' musteat list for a while, until recently undergoing a facelift with the arrival of a new chef — Amedeo Ferri.
Ferri grew up in Umbria, a region of central Italy known as the production area of one of the most sought-after ingredients — truffle, and fine wine as well as cuisine. The culture of his hometown inspired him to become a chef.
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Ninety percent of the original dishes have been replaced at Danieli's, Ferri said, and the new concept encompasses authentic Italian dishes combining both northern and southern Italian cuisines.
To be specific, diners could select from the bright, lively Mediterranean taste of southern Italian style with olive oil and fresh steamed seafood, and also richer meaty dishes with cream sauces from the county's north.
Some signature dishes of Ferri's new a la carte menu at Danieli's include ravioli with red onion, pecorino cheese, and saffron; Milanese-style slow cooked pork with mustard sauce, beetroot and broccoli; and cod with caviar, mashed carrot and baby spinach.
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The new set menu also gives the piecemeal selection a run for its money — the lunch set menu now runs 198 yuan and dinner is set at 228 yuan per person through Feb 28.
Ferri's culinary philosophy is to be an explorer of the seasonality in food, he said, radiating the passionate characteristic of Italy.
He used to make special trips to receive culinary training under famous Michelin-star chefs, including Heinz Beck (executive chef at La Pergola for 23 years, the only 3-star restaurant in Rome), Takagi Kazuo (founder of two-star Kazuo Restaurant), and Ferra Adria (executive chef at elBulli, the legendary restaurant that topped The World's 50 Best Restaurants list for five consecutive years).
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The much-traveled chef used to work at many luxurious hotels around the world during his two-decade culinary career before taking over Danieli's.
If you go Danieli's, 21 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district, Beijing; 010-64606688 ext. 2440
