“It’s wonderful to see so many Italian brands setting up shop in the city! Now everytime you need something Italian you don’t need to go all the way to Italy!” laughed Cesare Bieller, the consul-general of Italy at the Furla launch. t2 chatted with him on a few of his favourite Italian things.

On Italy and Calcutta...

Italians are like Bengalis. They love food! I love to talk about food, I love to cook food and, of course, I love to eat food. In Calcutta, I love going to New Market where I buy bekti that I cook Italian-style. For me the best part about food here is fish! But we usually end meals, especially lunch, with coffee, which is not the custom here.

On his fave Italian restaurant in Calcutta...

I love the pizzas at Fire and Ice! I am happy that Serafina is now open — I simply love their risottos and pizzas!

On Italian brands...

I love my Italian perfumes, the names of which I will not reveal because they’re available only in Italy! I am also very fond of Italian shoes and I simply can’t survive without them!

On an Italian city he’s in love with...

There are so many wonderful places in Italy, which aren’t very well known among Indians. In July, I visited a small Renaissance-era town in Tuscany called Pienza, very famous for its Montalcino and Montepulciano wines.

On Italian films...

Italians love films and the country won so many Oscars this year! When I went to Nandan, I was touched to see pictures of Michelangelo Antonioni from when he had visited the city many years ago. And then of course there are greats like Roberto Rossellini.

Favourite Italian actor...

Roberto Benigni, especially in Life is Beautiful.

Complete the sentence: Italian men and women...

Believe in making a good impression wherever they go.You will never understand Italians if you don’t learn the expression bella figura which means to be dressed appropriately for any occasion. Italians are very conscious about their beauty. When I was in Italy a few weeks back, I was eating breakfast in a cafe and a man walked in and checked himself out in the mirror before seating himself! I found myself realising that this only happens in Italy and nowhere else! Bella figura!

Text: Riddhima Khanna
Pictures: Rashbehari Das