Captaining the artisans in Cucina is Chef Patrizia Battolu, whom is no stranger to Asia. Born and raised in South Italy among a passionate family about food diversity. Pursuing her passion for travelling and food, Chef Patrizia has been fortunate with opportunities to experience island life around the world throughout her culinary career.
For the past decade she has been living in China and Thailand before embarking on a journey to the island of the gods in Bali – Indonesia. During which she has been exploring Italian-Mediterranean cuisines while adapting to the local culture and taste buds.
Chef Patrizia joining Sofitel as the lead chef is like a breath of fresh air, a cool breeze from the coast of southern Italy to the southern coast of Bali. The fact that she is originally from South Italy is aligned with the concept of Cucina which serves Italian-Mediterranean cuisines and interior design that is inspired by the invigorating natural scenery of Amalfi on the southwest coast of Italy.
Influenced by the Mediterranean weather and the region’s agriculture, South Italian cuisine uses tomatoes, olive oil, herbs and spices like oregano, basil, and citruses to bring out the flavour and aromatic of the food, especially the seafood. “That’s why the most important element in Italian food is the ingredients need to be fresh and of good quality. For Cucina, I always try to source everything from the locals. It’s more important to have fresh ingredients rather than imported preserved ones. Also, sourcing from local is a responsible thing to do to help the community,” said Chef Patrizia.
Having Chef Patrizia as a woman in a leadership position is aligned with Accor’s commitment to a more inclusive and diverse workplace. Meanwhile, in an effort to support the local communities and Sofitel’s CSR programme, Cucina also reveals handcrafted and sustainable uniforms designed by an Indonesian artisan, while the tiles are handcrafted by artisans from Ubud. Apart from being Sofitel’s CSR programme, these initiatives also allow Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort to contribute and be part of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) movement.
Ultimately, Cucina’s uniforms are designed by Adrie Basuki, a mindful Indonesian artisan who specialises in using crafty “kain perca” and recycled cotton rayon for a minimum environmental impact. The colour and pattern of the new uniform are inspired by the sky and ocean view of Positano village on the southern Amalfi coast in Italy. These uniforms are tailor- made by housewives in Kampung Perca, Bogor – Indonesia.
The revamped Cucina with its invigorating new look and concept will be launched during the reopening events on 28 August 2022 and soon after it is open for in-house and non-staying guests.
For more information and reservations, email [email protected] or call +62-361-849-2888.
