ITALIAN FAMILY STYLE FEASTING, PLEASE!
The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali’s newest expansion will include the opening of Prego, their take on fresh, family-friendly Italian dining.
Prego, like aloha or cheers, is one of those words that has multiple meanings depending on the context in which it is used. It can mean “please,” “after you,” “you’re welcome,” or “don’t mention it!” Of course the sentiment that connects them all is a sense of warmth and hospitality that Italian families are famous for, especially Italian mothers who would rather die than let a guest go home less than completely stuffed with their cooking.
It is exactly that spirit of warmth, hospitality and family that the Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali is hoping to imbue in their newest F&B outlet, Prego, which is scheduled to open in September. Built as part of a completely new wing of the resort, Prego will be a fun Italian family restaurant featuring an expansive dining room with an open kitchen concept, allowing guests to watch Chef de Cuisine Valerio Pachetti and his team cooking up their Italian feasts.
Chef Valerio comes to Bali directly from The Westin Pune Koreagon Park in India, where he was responsible for whipping up the authentic Italian cuisine at their own award-winning Prego restaurant. Born in Colombia, South America to Italian parents, Chef Valerio enjoyed a multi-cultural childhood where good food was the focal point of his daily life. Upon graduating from a private culinary school in Rome, he went on to hone his skills at a number of pizzerias and seafood restaurants in Rome and later in kitchens around the world. Eventually he decided to perfect his technique by returning to his Italian roots in a Michelin-starred restaurant in Sicily.
Chef Valerio has the big, boisterous personality one would expect of an Italian chef, and he plans on introducing all sorts of gimmick and programs to make dining at Prego fun for the whole family, such as pizza workshops for kids.
While Chef Valerio is readying plenty of surprises, his main focus is on making the best, most authentic Italian food he can. His menu offers generous portions of classic pasta dishes alongside regional specialties and wood-oven pizzas, all at relatively reasonable prices.
As part of his quest for the best, Chef Valerio held auditions for his second-in-command Sous Chef. After choosing three finalists, a competition was held in the main kitchen of the resort in which each finalist were presented with tuna and beef and asked to create a menu of signature dishes. The dishes were judged by Chef Valerio and the Westin Resort Nusa Dua’s leading culinary team.
“It is essential to have a Chef who possesses the whole package for this distinct restaurant, from skill to attitude. That’s why we held this event, so we can see if they have what it takes to perform in Prego while at the same time showcasing their passion for food” Chef Valerio said.
