Amici's Italian ode

MANILA, Philippines - Before Amici became a household name, it was a small Italian eatery at the corner of Don Bosco school on Pasong Tamo.

Helmed by Fr. Colombo, an Italian priest, the dining spot originally catered to the school staff but soon opened its doors to students and, after many requests, to the general public.

“It was a place that offered authentic Italian food in a canteen style,” recalls Amici marketing director Philip Moran. “It wasn’t pretentious and really affordable.”

The Don Bosco diner suddenly became a hotspot, where office clerks would mingle with executives. “People from nearby offices would come after work, especially from the Italian Consulate, because the food reminded them of home,” Moran says. “Eventually people from Alabang and QC would come to try it.”

Gourmet Spanish chorizo and spinach in white sauce pizza, P420

Its popularity grew organically, from word-of-mouth recommendations and status updates to legitimate food reviews from foodies searching for the next under-the-radar dining spot.

“My father, Danny Moran, really enjoyed the food and saw potential there,” says Moran, who comes from a family of restaurateurs.

When the Morans approached the people behind Amici about acquiring the brand, they found common ground in — of all things — football.

“In the beginning the priests were hesitant,” says Amici GM Leonardo Berba. “That disappeared when they met Danny and discovered that they had played soccer with Danny, who played for the national team in the ’70s.”

When Amici ownership transferred hands, the Morans took the Don Bosco spirit to heart, partnering with the Tuloy Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Salesian priest Fr. Rocky Evangelista “focused on giving street children hope for a better life.”

Seafood chowder and saffron-flavored risotto with a fried outer layer, P295

“Danny helped football on a grassroots level,” Berba observes. “He helped sponsor the team for the Homeless World Cup and continues to support social responsibility programs.”

Today, Amici is located at Don Bosco School, Ayala Triangle Gardens, Greenhills, SM MegaMall, Alabang Town Center and Tomas Morato locations, and though it has grown into a large company, it retains the original spirit bequeathed by the Salesian priests. “We didn’t lose the DNA that Amici was famous for: the Don Bosco spirit and the passion for football, which is very Italian,” says Berba. In fact, certain dishes on the menu are earmarked for donation. (For every order of a Tuloy Speciali dish, P10 will go directly to Tuloy Foundation.)

Arugula and mixed greens paired with blue cheese and pear, served with a honey vinaigrette dressing, P180

Amici has retained many of the original favorites while growing its menu, thanks to an Italian executive chef, who drew on old Italian recipes made innovative by the adaption of new techniques. Aside from wood-burning brick ovens, which churn out thin, crisp pizzas, like the best-selling Tutta Carne or the recently-launched chorizo and spinach pizza, Amici has added a line of house favorites like fried risotto balls filled with savory meat ragu and mozzarella cheese and a range of salads.

Moran is particularly fond of the seafood chowder and saffron-flavored risotto with a fried outer layer. “You rarely see risotto like this,” he explains.

The risotto is formed into a thick pancake then fried so the outside becomes crunchy but the inside retains the soft density risotto is known for. The dish is lightly steeped in a seafood broth and garnished with seafood.

“We kept best-sellers from the original Amici,” Moran remarks, “because that’s what people got to know. And they’ve looked for it each time they’ve come back.”

To thank diners, Amici partnered with Citibank’s Dining Privileges program for the week of Sept. 26 to 30, offering any cake or gelato cake like this Peach Walnut Passion Gelato Cake (worth P780) for a minimum bill of P3,500.

To thank their loyal patrons, Amici partnered with Citibank for an exclusive diners’ promo. When diners spend P2,500 on a meal using their Citibank card, Amici thanks them with two scoops of gelato gratis. “Our gelato is made locally in-house, with natural ingredients, like fresh fruits and natural sugar,” says Moran. But for the week of Sept. 26 to 30, they’re offering any cake or gelato cake of choice for a minimum bill of P3,500. 

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Fried risotto balls filled with savory meat ragu and mozzarella cheese, P185

Amici is located at Don Bosco School, Ayala Triangle Gardens, Greenhills, SM Megamall, Alabang Town Center and Tomas Morato. Citibank boasts a Best Deal guarantee: If diners can find a better deal at restaurant under the Citibank Dining Privileges program, the bank will offer a refund for their meal. Local diners can avail of Citibank promotions in 5,000 partner restaurants around Asia. For more info on other dining promos, visit www.citibank.com.ph or call 995-9999.

When diners spend P2,500 on a meal using their Citibank card, Amici thanks them with two scoops of gelato gratis, like this Strawberry Supreme Gelato

Amici GM Leonardo Berba, Amici marketing director Philip Moran and Citibank vice president, Credit Payment Products Alma Gruenberg.