Mathis World
Mathis on the road… in Italy
Bergamo – Brescia
The Da Vittorio in Brusaporto, just outside Bergamo, is an exceptional domain situated in the middle of the Bergamo Alps. Chicco and Bobo Cerea are the chefs of the three-star restaurant, offering outstanding fish specialities that are rather unusual for the region but always fresh and prepared in a creative way.
www.davittorio.com
Bolgheri
Ristorante La Pineta in Bibbona, beside the sea. Local fish and, every day, the ‘Menu dello Chef’ with different specialities. A visit is well worthwhile!
Mathis on the road… in Sicily
Taormina
Hotel Villa Belverde with sea view. At the pool bistro it is an absolute must to order ‘Spaghettini al pomodoro fresco, aglio, basilico e peperoncino’.
In the village centre, the Ristorante Maffei’s offers a classical Italian ambiance and specialities such as ‘Pesce in guazzetto’ with tomatoes, olives, celery, fennel and potatoes, or ‘Di Gamberi di Mazara’.
www.villabelvedere.it
www.ristorantemaffeis.com
Donnafugata
The golf resort Donnafugata near to Santa Croce Camerina and Scoglitti, is a magnificent estate with an ultra-modern hotel featuring all amenities and two 18-hole courses.
The Ristorante Sakalleo is located nearby, in Scoglitti. It is managed by former footballer Paquale Ferrara.
www.donnafugatagolfresort.com
www.sakalleo.com
Sciacca
The Rocco Forte Verdura Golf & Spa Resort is a very impressive estate with two 18-hole golf courses. It is situated beside the sea and features all the amenities of a modern resort.
The gourmet restaurant offers a rich variety of market-fresh and local produce. Caponnata with vegetables, and of course the day’s catch from the sea, prepared on the grill or in Sicilian tradition ‘in guazzetto’, are outstanding.
www.roccofortehotels.com
Further excellent addresses in Sciacca:
Hostaria del vicolo, in the old part of town, www.hostariadelvicolo.it
Trattoria del Faro, a very simple fish restaurant at the port
Bar e Pasticceria del Corso, for deserts, www.barpasticceriadelcorso.it
Mathis on the road… in Hong Kong
The MIRA, purely and simply THE design hotel in Hong Kong. Martin Chung has managed the hotel for more than a year now. It excels with its tasteful design and its excellent cuisine. The innovative restaurant Cuisine Cuisine deserves a special mention. It goes without saying that Martin’s wine cellar is well stocked!
www.themirahotel.com
Chinese chefs, too, slowly but steadily, are starting to modernise their culinary skills and culture. The best example is Alvin Leung at Bo Innovation. He calls his concept ‘x-treme Chinese cuisine’. His tasting menu is an absolute must. 18 courses of the most innovative and avant-garde dishes not only cause astonishment, but also create perfectly coordinated bliss for the palate. Reservation required.
www.boinnovation.com
An insider’s tip, approximately half an hour out of the pulsating metropolis, is Kim Chung’s ‘country inn’ One Thirty-One. The charming estate not only surprises with its Mediterranean character but above all with the cuisine of the chef, Caith Chow.
www.one-thirtyone.com
Mathis on the road… in the Philippines
Manila
The Makati Shangri-La is still one of the top addresses of the capital. It is situated in a central position, in the middle of the pedestrian zone and the shopping mall. The attentive and extremely friendly service needs to be underlined, as well as the impressive live-buffet-station restaurant concept Circles that suits everyone’s taste.
www.shangri-la.com
The gourmet shops and restaurants Säntis of Werner Berger, an emigrated Swiss, can be found everywhere in the island archipelago. First class produce of European and Swiss origin, with meat and sausages produced on the spot, complete Werner’s ‘food empire’. Anybody who is a little homesick would do well to go to one of his restaurants.
www.iam-angus.com.ph
www.chesabianca.com.ph
www.carpaccio.com.ph
Amateurs of Philippine cuisine, who wish to savour authentic dishes, will go to Abé – the place where good friends dine. www.ljcrestaurants.com.ph
An hour’s drive out of Manila one arrives in Tagaytay City, on the edge of the crater of an extinct volcano. To dine out, one has to go to Antonio’s Restaurant. This very stylishly transformed colonial house is situated in a former coffee plantation. Best quality produce served in an exceptional environment guarantee an unforgettable experience. Since the restaurant is rather difficult to find, it is strongly recommended to take a driver or obtain very clear directions.
www.antoniosrestaurant.ph
Bohol
The island of Bohol is located an hour’s flight south of Manila. The recently opened boutique resort Amun Ini is the place to be and relax! The star in the background is the cuisine offered by Adrianne ‘BO’ Carmona. Trained in the capital and in the USA, she understands like no other chef, how to combine local cultural assets with modern aspects of cuisine.
www.amun-ini.com
