Roberto Apa's love for cooking can be traced back to his childhood when he would often help his grandmother and aunt create delicious meals for their home. The first recipe he ever learnt and created was his aunt’s Torta Caprese cake, which still remains his favourite dish.
A journey that started in his grandmother’s kitchen has since moulded him into a seasoned creative and professional chef, with an experience of over 15 years, in kitchens all over the world. Having studied professionally at AMLA – The National Academy of Italian Cuisine, gave Roberto an insight into the history of Italian and international cuisines, where he further mastered Italian cooking. His sheer passion for food and love for cooking took him to exotic locales in Italy, China, France and has eventually brought him to India, his new home!
Prior to joining Le Meridien Gurgaon, his last Marriott assignment was with the award-winning Italian restaurant in Sheraton Grand Bangalore. Before his journey to the Indian subcontinent, he is known to have held various positions of repute at Michelin-starred restaurants in various international locations. During this time, he had the opportunity to work with distinguished personalities with the likes of Ristorante II Buco of Chef Peppe Aversa and Ristorante II Postale of Chef Marco Bistarelli, in Perugia; all of whom who had directly trained under Maestro Gualtiero Marchesi - the founder of Modern Italian Cuisine.
In his current role, Chef Roberto together with his humans at Bella Cucina, will be seen creating experiential dining experiences. Experience that is personal, one that directly impacts the mood of the diners and is curated out of the initial conversations that takes place in the world of Bella Cucina.
At Bella Cucina, the chefs personally engage and assist each table with their menu choices that results in signature dishes which are delightfully unique to that moment. Staying true to the authenticity of the Italian cuisine, Chef Roberto brings his experiences and family-learned techniques to the Bella table. The signature menu comes to life with the right blend of in-house handmade recipes, locally sourced seasonal produce, along with the finest of imported Italian ingredients and offers a remarkable array of dishes. Apart from whipping up gourmet Italian dishes, Roberto also indulges in the high-octane art of mixology during his free time. The team of mixologists at Bella Cucina, understand the key role that beverages play in dining and have worked very closely with him to create a perfectly curated menu for the space. In his free time, he indulges his culinary calling by reading gastronomic history books and learning more about the art of cooking, while listening to jazz music. Chef Roberto is an avid biker and enjoys discovering fresh ingredients during his biking escapades.
He continues to add feathers to his cap with the experiences he has gathered, and holding the reign of Bella Cucina’s culinary journey is something he looks forward to, with great passion.