Flavors of resilience: a new chapter for Hong Kong's dining industry

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Hong Kong is renowned for turning challenges into opportunities, and the restaurant sector is no exception.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao, invites you to an exclusive Breakfast Talk on "Flavors of resilience: a new chapter for Hong Kong's dining industry".

An engaging discussion with leading industry professionals exploring the evolving landscape of the dining industry. How restaurants and food service providers are adapting to recent challenges and shaping a more resilient and innovative future.

Join us on Monday, February 17th, 2025, from 9:00AM to 10:30AM at ICC Office for an exclusive event featuring leading experts from Virgilio - Creating Value, Banfi Srl, Pirata Group and Classic Fine Foods, who will share their insights and perspectives.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn more on Hong Kong dining industry!

Availability is limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Secure your spot now!

Kindly note the following:

Limited seats are available, RSVP to secure your place.
Cancellations must be provided in writing to: icc@icc.org.hk 5 days before the event.
By attending this event, you agree to be photographed, recorded, and/or filmed.
The event will be rescheduled or canceled if there is a Typhoon 8 (or above) or Black Rainstorm Signal.

For further information, please email icc@icc.org.hk.

Speakers

Paolo Fassina

APAC Director of Banfi Srl

Roberto Garrone

COO at Pirata Group

Mareta Suhendra

Category Manager - Meditteranean Products at Classic Fine Foods

Gabriele Falcone

Managing Director & Co-Founder of Virgilio - Creating Value

A native of Italy, Paolo Fassina is almost synonymous with the expert of Italian wines in the region.
He has professional sommelier courses with Italian Sommelier Association and AIMS, and topped up with a Master degree in Management and Marketing in Wine Business from Florence University.
Currently holding a senior role as APAC Director for Castello di Banfi, his previous professional experience includes being Assistant Commercial Director at Castello di Verrazzano, a winery in Tuscany, Chianti Classico area; Restaurant Manager at Cinecittá (Conde Nast Traveler’s World’s 50 top new restaurants) before he was promoted to be the Wine Director of Elite Concepts Group Hong Kong, where he was looking after the significant size of wine selections for the restaurants under the group overseeing various wineries’ involvement in wine events, and providing wine tasting/training for the staffs and selected VIP customers of the group; Wine Consultant at Portofino Restaurant, Venetian Macao and D Diamond Restaurant and Bar, fine dining concept, by the Italian Luxury jewelry firm, Damiani.
As part of his professional engagements, Paolo has held various capacities such as a member of the Wine Advisory Committee for Restaurant & Bar Fair Hong Kong, involvement in the Italian Trade Commission (I.C.E) on several food and wine events, collaboration with Florence University "Master in Marketing and Management of the Wines", Wine MBA at Hong Kong University SPACE, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, Chinese University of Hong Kong, La Sapienza University of Rome. Fassina’s food and wine pairing expertise earned him the Wine Consulting role at the prestigious Dining with the Stars – the most exclusive gastronomic event in Hong Kong.
Paolo is a Consultore of the Accademia della Cucina Italiana, an official organization born in Milam in 1953, to protect and promote the Italian gastronomic tradition, and Vice President of the Dante Alighieri Society Hong Kong, a charity organization promoting Italian culture and language.
In 2020, the President of the Italian Republic appointed Paolo a Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy.

From Indonesia to Dubai then Singapore and now Hongkong is home. Years of experiences in F&B operation, cocktail's enthusiast and chef's ally. On her 6th years working for Classic Fine Foods, they are present throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Classic Fine Foods Hong Kong was established in 2001, and their Macau branch opened in 2007. They have since become a leader in the industry, offering high-quality products to the finest restaurants, hotels, and central kitchens across the city-state, as well as to prestigious department stores and gourmet food outlets.

Her focus is to bridge Italy, Spain, and other Mediterranean Country producers with CFF Hong Kong, always on the look for good quality products, adapt to market's demands, catching up with trends and execute "producer to table" experiences.

"Be the person who still tries, the present time might be tough but keep on trying, try again, try once more, try differently, keep on trying until you succeed, have a courage!"

Gabriele Falcone has been living in this side of the world for almost 15 years. After starting off in Beijing working in a leading company in the wine business, he moved to Hong Kong where Gabriele worked for Jebsen Beverage (market leader in the importation and distribution of alcoholic beverage) and later for San Pellegrino.
In 2021, just right after the pandemic, he decided to quit the corporate universe to open his own company.
Virgilio - Creating Value today operates as a highly specialized export office throughout Asia Pacific and integrates different functions useful for proper brand development: business development, strategic consulting, communication and marketing.
Virgilio already boasts prestigious clients, namely major food&beverage companies such as Galbusera, Latteria Soresina, Costa d'Oro, Sammontana Group, San Benedetto waters and Rustichella d'Abruzzo.

Italian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong & Macao

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