Homemade. That is the operative word.
A visit to Westgate’s Da Gianni Cucina Italiana gives more than just a new dining experience, or a casual encounter with actor Matteo Guidicelli whose family owns Da Gianni. It is all about homemade Italian dishes, drinks, and desserts paired with a warm, with a curious mix of Cebuano touches, welcoming family setting that the Guidicellis are proud to have cultivated.
Upon entering the cozy dining space of Da Gianni, located at the Lower Ground Floor of the Westgate Hub in Alabang, Muntinlupa, guests are greeted with curious decorations–a bicycle mounted on the brick wall, a The Untouchables movie poster up on one side, and even a wall lined with photos of Gianni Guidicelli, whom the restaurant is named after.
Gianluca Guidicelli, the ‘brains’ behind the restaurant’s ever-growing menu and father of actor Matteo, shares his hopes for Da Gianni. “The restaurant, for me, is a very nice opportunity to keep on remembering who my father and mother were, even far into the future.”
As a man who loved both food and family, Gianni’s legacy lives on through the Guidicellis’ great recipes and the restaurant’s accommodating atmosphere where life’s milestones, big or small, can be celebrated.
“The restaurant is a way of honoring the patriarch of the family, Gianni Guidicelli. If you look around, a lot of his things are displayed here: his favorite paintings, his candies, his lighters, everything. Each and every memory of him is relived in the dishes that we serve; a lot of them are his recipes,” shares Patricia Villa-Abrille of Da Gianni.
The restaurant regularly gets ingredients from Italy to strictly maintain the quality and authenticity of their recipes, even going as far as bringing home different olive oils from various regions in Italy to match their salads and other recipes. Its menu is mainly composed of Italian dishes, with a bit of Cebuano cooking especially in the breakfast menu, as Gianni’s family resided in Cebu after moving from Italy.
Among their pizzas, well-loved choices are the Quattro Formaggi, or Four Cheese in English, topped with truffles, and Prosciutto & Arugula with flavors as straightforwardly delicious as its name.
Another bestseller is the creamy Truffle Parpardelle, famous for its homemade broad pasta noodles with Parmigiano and black summer truffle paste. From their House Special Red Sauce pastas, Spaghetti Shrimp & Scallop is a must-try, with sauce made from fresh, organic tomatoes sourced from local farmers, if not shipped straight from Italy.
Since meals are never complete without drinks and dessert, they have a selection of dessert recommendations, namely, the Tiramisu, Chocolate Mousse, the fun Nutella Pizza, and Matteo’s personal favorite, the coffee, which they get from Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao.
Get the latest updates on Da Gianni by visiting their Facebook and their Instagram: @DaGianniManila.
Westgate Center is a premier development project of Filinvest Alabang Inc. in Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. The 9.2-hectare open-air shopping and dining complex boasts of a relaxing atmosphere perfect for rest and recreation. Visit the Westgate Center’s official page at facebook.com/WestgateAlabang.