Giuseppe Cipriani, a representative of the fourth generation of the famous Italian family of caterers and hoteliers, who enchanted the world with his specialties, is considering opening a hotel and restaurant in Belgrade.
In an exclusive statement for Tanjug, Cipriani said that he always opens restaurants and hotels of his chain where he likes to be, and Belgrade is a beautiful city.
“It’s always good to spread to the places you like. Everywhere I’ve opened, I’ve loved to stay. I haven’t opened restaurants and hotels where I don’t like it. Belgrade is a beautiful city,” said Cipriani.
Today, Cipriani will talk with President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic about the possibility of opening a restaurant and hotel in Belgrade.
Cipriani said that he was glad to meet with the President and Prime Minister of Serbia, from whom he expected to hear what the plans were, especially for “Belgrade Waterfront”.
“I did not expect what I see here. I am glad to hear what the plans are. This is my first day in Belgrade and I enjoy this city,” he emphasized.
He pointed out that the fourth generation of Cipriani has been running the business for 90 years.
“Maybe we will come to Belgrade as well, because it is a fascinating city, a beautiful metropolis,” he underlined.
His company, he says, is expanding in many countries, and is always looking for new opportunities for growth, as well as places where it is welcome.
Giuseppe Cipriani’s great-grandfather, after whom the first restaurant Harry’s Bar was named, opened in Venice on St. Mark’s Square in 1931, and in 1991 the Italian Ministry of Culture declared it a national symbol.
The Cipriani family is now, after Ibiza, New York, Moscow, Monte Carlo, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Miami, Mexico City, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, considering expanding their culinary magic to Belgrade.
The Cipriani family is also known for the fact that their recipe, according to which the traditional Italian appetizer carpaccio, from thinly chopped raw beefsteak, became famous all over the world, as well as the Bellini cocktail, whose main ingredients are white peach and prosecco.
Giuseppe first made a meal for a countess who was recommended by doctors to eat raw meat. Cipriani based the dish on a Piedmont specialty consisting of slices of raw beef topped with lemon juice, olive oil and truffle shavings.
An art lover in love, he named this dish after the painter Vittore Carpaccio, whose style and bold colors are reminiscent of the intense red color of raw meat.
Over the years, Harry’s Bar has become a meeting place for writers, painters, artists, aristocrats, kings and queens, a place that has witnessed history. Among the famous guests were Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote, Gary Cooper, Peggy Guggenheim, Catherine Hepburn.
The keys to the success of that small bar were: good and unobtrusive service, so it is not surprising that among the guests were Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles, Aristotle Onassis, Woody Allen, as well as “crowned heads” from Spanish King Alfonso XIII to British Prince Charles, Tanjug reports.
