AGAINST AI, MULTINATIONALS AND IGNORANT BLOGGERS
Roberto Galetti is not only one of the world's leading figures in the Italian cuisine business, but also a symbol of Singapore's food and wine leadership in the last 20 years, which is now severely challenged by deep changes.
Grown professionally under the mentorship of the late Giacomo Gallina and guided by the teachings of Angelo Gaja, Roberto has opened and managed 21 restaurants in less than 15 years. Today, he manages the fine dining restaurant Garibaldi Group of Restaurants, the casual dining Gustavo Lapasta and Burrata Joy, and a caviar business. In his exclusive interview to Melius newsletter, he shares the tenets of his business model, a realistic analysis of the F&B market in Singapore and Asia, and his dream of a restaurant like the one in Midnight Diner (Netflix). Full version here https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/against-ai-cheating-multinationals-ignorant-blogger-here-scarpato-yhfvf
"I see the Italian restaurant industry in Singapore and Asia as somewhat stagnant. The customers who followed us and enjoyed this evolution are unfortunately aging. The new generation is not as attracted to Italian cuisine. Young people, unfortunately are easily influenced by the media, follow trends, and in Singapore right now there's the Korean trend”.
“We are in the AI era, menus have become QR codes, and what Italian restaurants are all about—conviviality, passion, and the shared expression of culture—is destined to disappear. That's why I say I see a bleak future”
“The Italian restaurant won't disappear, it can't disappear, but it's no longer the first choice”.
“Multinationals with well-covered backs and perhaps even with interests beyond the restaurant industry, opened. An invasion of Chinese Hot Pot restaurant chains, with poor average products but elevate customer experience with manicures, phone cleaning and screensaver changes, drinks and snacks, all free… Anything as long as customers don't focus on the second-rate product they serve. It's difficult to fight against these realities”.
“On the other hand, there are still so many people who recognize our efforts and have supported us for years. That's why when great Italian cuisine is mentioned in Singapore, Garibaldi's name comes up”.
“From Angelo Gaja I personally learned a great lesson. One day he told me: ‘Roberto, in life you have to DO - KNOW HOW TO DO - KNOW HOW TO MAKE SURE TO DO - MAKE SURE TO KNOW’.Thank you, Angelo”.
“I'd like to open a small Pasta Bar with only seats at the counter, no QR codes, no Instagram, no bloggers, no menus, pure chef-customer relationship that then turns into friendship and respect, exactly like the Midnight Diner series on Netflix”