Our casual “apéro” at Cugini - in Hanoi’s West Lake area 15 minutes by taxi from downtown Hanoi - was held on a pleasant Tuesday evening in January. The event was hosted by the Bailliage’s OMGD (Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs) section. It started at 4pm and concluded late.

Cugini was opened in 2018 by Maître Restaurateur Cyprien Pierlovisi, who originates from France, in conjunction with the Italian-born Executive Chef, Maître Rôtisseur Nico Ceccomoro.

Every day Chef Nico welcomes guests to Cugini with the warmth of homemade Italian food in a cosy, yet elegant venue. The menu offers the best of traditional Italian cuisine with a modern twist. Antipasti, followed by pizzas, pasta and food from the grill for ‘second piatti’, are prepared with simple, fresh ingredients. The pizza bases and pasta are house made to bring you the taste of authentic Italian cuisine.

For our “apéro event we invited guests to drop in anytime during the evening for some canapés presented by Chef Nico and a glass of wine (or more) from the bin-ends in the Bailliage’s cellars.

It was a very enjoyable, fun occasion for Bailliage members as well as for the many guests who attended with a view to perhaps joining the Chaîne themselves in 2021.

Raj Taneja
Bailli Délégué

NB. The Bailliage of Vietnam supports the underdog by giving whatever profits we make to local charity, with the aim of making Vietnam richer, more vibrant and an unmissable culinary destination.