Trattoria da Gianni: A restaurant born out of love

Italians take pleasure in preserving and celebrating culinary traditions. They enjoy talking about food because it affords them such joy. 

Fast forward to the Philippines.

Gianni Guidicelli, born in northern Italy, and his wife Franca Guidicelli, visited the Philippines in the late ‘70s, fell in love with the country and never left. Their son Gianluca Guidicelli, like his parents, not only fell in love with the place, but  also fell in love with a Cebuana, Glenna Guidicelli. They are blessed with three children, actor Matteo, Giorgia and Paolo.  

The Guidicellis have lived by their Italian heritage where family plays a central role and a family meal is customary in the household. Their loyal cooks of 20 years, Antonia and Jean, have mastered the Italian way of cooking.

Gianni passed away last year leaving the two cooks with no one to attend to any longer. The idea of putting up a family restaurant in memory of their patriarch Gianni was conceived, which led to the formal opening of Tratorria de Gianni located at Crossroads Mall in Banilad. 

Trattoria de Gianni is casual and unpretentious. All the love that goes into the restaurant does not only reflect in the food they serve, but also in the cozy and inviting interiors that extend  a warm-hearted welcome typical in an Italian home. 

One thing that sets Tratorria de Gianni apart is that instead of serving pizzas, they have a wide variety of brushettas with toppings ranging from Parma ham with figs and fresh ricotta, to Taleggio cheese with apricots, making the dishes more exciting than the usual. Most of the dishes are based on the time-honored Guidicelli recipes.

Diners can also expect freshly made pastas with homemade sauces for that personal touch, different kinds of mouthwatering mozzarellas, a variety of fresh salads, traditional cold cuts and cured meats, premium Italian cheeses, hearty soups and  delectable desserts. The menu also indicates which dishes were Gianni’s personal favorites. Some of these include the minestrone, spaghetti with pesto Genovese, ragu della Nonna, (spaghetti with tomato meat sauce and Parmiggiano Reggiano) and tiramisu. 

Crafted out of love, Tratorria de Gianni is the Guidicellis’ way of welcoming everyone into their kitchen, hoping to spread the love that Gianni had for food to the Cebuanos.

Giorgia Guidicelli, a nutritionist who manages the trattoria with a little help from dad Gianluca and mom Glenna, appreciates and delivers the magical synergy that is created when the joys of conversation commingle with the pleasure of beautiful food and drink.