Micheli Patrizio, with his wife and son, at his Italian Dream restaurant in Wuhan. Provided to China Daily

Chef says incentives help create investment opportunities in city

Thousands of kilometers from his home in Milan, Italy, Micheli Patrizio has a delicious dream.

Pizza, pasta, football and tiramisu - all have become the keywords of Italian Dream, a restaurant serving up authentic Italian culture and cuisine in the heart of Wuhan in Central China.

"Though I was a cook in Italy for years, I never opened a restaurant before, especially in an unfamiliar country," Patrizio recalls of the very beginning days when he started the restaurant in Wuhan.

Five years ago, Patrizio and his wife, Zuo Na, a Wuhan native who studied in Italy and married Patrizio in 2001, flew to Wuhan because of better opportunities.

Italian Dream, an Italian-style dining hall, is located on French Street in the Wuhan Economic Development Zone. With streetscape reminiscent of France, the street is part of the international community in Wuhan Golden Harbor.

To promote the internationalization of Wuhan and create more communication between the foreign residents and Wuhan locals, the government constructed the special street with a 57-million-yuan (6-million-euro) investment in 2005, and launched a rent-relief policy to attract international investment for its 48 commercial stores. Patrizio says he got three years of free rent for the 160-sq-m shop.

On Oct 18, 2006, Patrizio's Italian Dream officially opened near a river. The restaurant is decked out in complete Italian decor and often filled with the sounds of Italian football.

"I am a big fan of AC Milan," Patrizio told China Daily while pointing to the team's red and black flag on the wall.

To watch the football games, Patrizio set up a satellite TV in his shop.

"I never miss AC Milan's match and a lot of customers will join me."

Patrizio even bought a table football game for his restaurant.

With authentic Italian food and a strong football culture, Italian Dream's fame has spread beyond French Street, with many expats and locals traveling an hour or more to enjoy themselves here.

"I love this city more and more," said Patrizio, who has taken Wuhan as his second home, living a happy life with his wife and their 9-year-old son, Eros.

Eros, born in Milan, has fully integrated into life in Wuhan since his parents brought him back in 2006.

"Though my son is still young, he has mastered three languages," Zuo Na said very proudly of Eros, who can speak Italian, Mandarin and the Wuhan dialect well.

The boy is studying in Zhanlanguan primary school of Wuhan.

"Even if Chinese children have a heavy burden on learning and homework, I can't let him give up playing football," Patrizio says, as every afternoon he plays soccer with Eros.

Patrizio also taught Eros to cook traditional Italian dishes such as pizza and stewed meat paste.

"He loves both China and Italy," Patrizio says.

Despite Wuhan still being a developing city, Patrizio thinks there is great potential.

"It is very convenient to reach any city in China from Wuhan."

Patrizio also thinks highly of the people in Wuhan.

"They are positive in attracting foreigners, for they are eager to develop and be international."

More than 10 foreign stores are operating on French Street and the manager of French Street told China Daily that they will continue to introduce preferential policies for international investment.

For this 47-year-old Italian, his dream was to make more people know his country and enjoy its culture.

"In my Italian Dream, my dream has come true," Patrizio smiles.