A successful chain of restaurants in London and around is the stuff every chef’s dreams are made of. But not for Aldo Zilli, who had all this, but still decided to hang his apron about a year back. ?I am a lunatic,? is what he says when you ask him the obvious question?why did he sell his chain of restaurants in London?
But as no one doubts Zilli?s sanity, the answer lies more in his Italian roots and the Italians? love for family.
?I lost one family to my restaurants. My first wife left me because I was totally immersed in my restaurants. They took up all my time and energy. I married again some time later, but soon, the second marriage started going downhill too. I was rarely home and had no time for my family. I started wondering if my restaurants were worth it. At that time, I also starting getting fed up of other problems associated with running food establishments. Staff problems, thefts, quality issues?these things started becoming sore points. But in hindsight, I think I was looking for an excuse to get out of the business. In the end, I chose to be with my kids. Luckily, I was able to sell my restaurants overnight,? Zilli admits candidly.
It?s a sunny winter afternoon, and Zilli is in the mood to talk.
We are at Zerruco, his latest venture, in Delhi. The relaxed outdoor seating area of the Italian restaurant helps the words flow faster.
?I set up my first restaurant at the age of 26 years. People like Paul McCartney, Madonna, George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Prince Edward walked in everyday. I hung around with them. I have had my years of rock and roll. I had the real celebrities. Now the people in my life are the celebrities,? says Zilli.
But his is not a story that ends sadly. In fact, it?s a story of how second chances in life can be better than ?the first, and how tough choices can result in a better life. Today, Zilli pursues his passion for food, but without the daily hassle of running a restaurant. Instead, he now advises people on how to run their own restaurants. And, whenever he is in the mood for some cooking himself, he organises pop-up restaurants all over London.
About a year after selling his restaurants, Zilli partnered with some Indian investors to lend his name and expertise to yet another restaurant, this one in Delhi?Zerruco by Zilli.
?Cooking is in my blood. Nothing is more satisfying than cooking someone a meal,? he says. But why India of all places? ?There are a lot of Indians in London; so many that I thought all of you guys were there, but I was surprised to see a lot more of you here in Delhi,? he jokes. ?Many of my good friends are Indian, and so when the opportunity to partner in a restaurant in India came, I lapped it up,? he adds.
That the venture is a win-win for him helps. ?At Zerruco, I steer clear of the logistics. It?s only the food where I come in. I have trained the staff here and I also visit Delhi regularly to ensure the quality of food remains consistent,? says Zilli.
Insisting on keeping the flavours authentically Italian, Zilli refuses to tailor the menu to Indian tastes. Also, if the vegetarian options are substantial, then they are more because of Zilli?s passion for greens than any catering to the large Indian vegetarian population.
For instance, Zilli insists on importing even flour for the pizzas, arguing that local flour does not taste as good as the Italian original. The restaurant has a big wood-fire oven on its premises for fresh, crisp pizzas. The seafood is flown in fresh and the lamb is imported from New Zealand. The one thing Zilli is happy about in India are the local vegetables. The good news is, within three years, Zerruco by Zilli will open in least two more Indian cities, most likely to be Mumbai and Bangalore.
As we wind up our chat, Zilli has some more nuggets to offer. ?I have been lucky to be able to follow my heart and still be successful. Not many people have that. I have no regrets in life; that?s for losers. Today, I live for the day; nobody knows what?s around the corner. I do what I want to do, instead of doing what other people want me to do.? Definitely the Italian talking!
