Gian Marco Alessi and Lawrence Zhao with Daniele Priori

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on Friday, November 20, 2009 12:00 AM

Your restaurant is called Rosso, Italian for red. Why did you choose that name?

Gian Marco Alessi: The China Flag is red. In Italy we have Ferrari. Red is for blood, life. Red is the Communist Party. Red roses are a symbol of natural beauty. Red sun for life.

The décor here is very striking, who designed it?

Gian Marco Alessi: I did. There is no decoration, only installation art. There's going to be changing Chinese contemporary art along the walls. I also want to represent the woman - I've had a sculpture made of a woman's head, huge, about the size of a tall person. Then the original columns of the building will be exposed, covered in glass for hygiene but still there so you can see the seams.

How has it been working with Marco - did you have very different opinions on the restaurant?

Lawrence Zhao: We had conflict but we moved forward. Especially at the beginning, we had so many different opinions about the design and direction. We both put a lot of time, effort and heart into this place.

Have you had a lot of experience in the restaurant business?

Lawrence Zhao: No, not really. My friends said to me: "You don't have any experience, does Marco?" And when I said no they were all very skeptical. But I think it's turned out well. We cooperated together, a Chinese and an Italian, and this is reflected in the design of Rosso.

Daniele, this is your first time in Asia doing a restaurant, have you changed the food at all for a Chinese market?

Daniele Priori: I won't compromise my food. I won't make food that caters to an Asian taste. I think to myself "how is this educating Chinese? Let's make the food like I would in an Italian restaurant in Italy." That way, they have the true Italian experience.

What do you all do to Enjoy Shanghai?

Gian Marco Alessi: We've honestly been spending all our time here. I love the heritage of old buildings in Shanghai, like the 1933 complex. So much history and culture is in the stones.