Simone Marelli, Milanese, born in 1991, after working experiences at some starred restaurants in Milan, including Joia and Aimo and Nadia, flies to Great Britain at the Waterside Inn of Bray (3 Michelin Stars) where he stays for about a year and a half. Last summer Daniel Canzian called him back to Italy and wanted him with him as Sommelier for the opening of his restaurant and where Simone decided to stay to build together with Daniel an important point of Milanese gastronomy.
Simone tells us, in a few lines, what it means for a young boy to undertake important experiences in Italy and even more abroad.
“From personal experience I think that seeing restaurants outside of Italy helps you open your mind, and learn to manage yourself outside your country, learn a language and get to know a new culture, thus absorbing the most positive things you can to exist. In my English experience at the Waterside Inn, I was lucky enough to witness the handover of the restaurant business “from father to son”, that is, from the founder Michel Roux to his son Alain, who now runs the family business maintaining the gastronomic tradition and the style of cuisine and service of all time, highly appreciated in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately in Italy this message is still not so clear and is rarely taken into consideration by children who almost never want to undertake the activity of their parents. In addition, I personally verified how important the respect of colleagues at work is: in fact, from the dishwasher to the chef, from the commis to the room manager, there must be no differentiations, everyone must feel an integral part of the company and be aware of contribute to its success.
The smile and friendliness of all types of customers are fundamental for those who are in contact with the public; you must always try to understand and satisfy the needs of the guest, showing that you are prepared and confident, that’s why I like to define sommeliers as “psychologists of good drinking”. In conclusion, I advise all young people and colleagues who have always remained in Italy to try an experience abroad as it serves to open the mind and perfect their profession“