Arriving in Australia in 1992, Giovanni Pilu has since become synonymous with a distinct regional approach to Italian food.
Pilu’s commitment to celebrating Italian flavours specific to region and season has paid off. Pilu at Freshwater, the restaurant he opened with wife Marilyn in 2004, draws heavily on his Sardinian heritage – it’s a microcosm of Italian living here in Sydney and has been awarded two chefs hats, among other accolades.
As a young boy growing up in Sardinia, Pilu would eagerly await his favourite fruits and vegetables coming into season.
He remembers excitedly gorging on over-ripe cherries until his stomach hurt. Reflecting on the memory he says: “We don’t look forward to anything anymore, we don’t have to wait.”
It was this passionate, seasonal approach to food he felt was missing when it came to Italian cuisine in Australia.
This video is part of the La Dolce Vita content series presented by Alfa Romeo, exploring the passion points of prominent Italian Australians.
Check out the other videos in the series:
