The Italian's prosperous career in China

甘肃 杨彦花

Located by the seaside of Sanya Bay in Sanya,an Italian restaurant has attracted countless diners from home and abroad with its authentic flavors.

Daniele,the owner and head chef of the restaurant,hails from Sardinia,Italy.“My restaurant is traditionally Italian in general,but more Mediterranean,and especially Sardinian food,something unique in China,”says Daniele.

Once a chef at a five-star hotel,Daniele has worked in many countries,including Britain,Thailand and Qatar.When he came to Sanya from Doha in 2015,he fell in love with this tropical coastal city and never left.“The reason is simple.I found my wife here,”he says.His wife Tessa,from Xi'an,used to work in the same hotel with him.

In 2018,Daniele and Tessa decided to open a restaurant named Cucina,which means kitchen in Italian.“It's my dream,as a chef,to have my own restaurant,”says Daniele.“I love Sanya,and it's a place full of opportunities.”

In his eyes,Sanya is a top tourist destination in China,while Hainan is also a free trade zone,meaning more opportunities for people coming to the island.While running his own restaurant,Daniele also offers consulting services to different restaurants in Sanya.

Having lived in Sanya for more than seven years,Daniele has witnessed the development of the city with new buildings and parks springing up almost daily.“The environment is better,and the government has invested a lot not just in normal infrastructure,but also in the service for citizens,”he says.Daniele and his wife had planned to open a second Italian restaurant featuring Italian street food in another bay in Sanya.

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What do you think attracted Daniele to stay in China for so long and never leave?