Strolling around Wuyuan Bay

The air is filled with not just the flavors of southern Fujian

But also a gentle breeze from the Mediterranean

That’s the smell from Genoa

As the aroma of melted cheese rises from a blazing oven

It quietly tickles your nose

This is the “hometown taste”

that Graziano has cooked up for this city

Let’s follow this wisp of

Genoese aroma

to embark on the fourth installment of the series “Foreigners in Huli Feel at Home”

A wondrous culinary journey

Let’s set off right now

In 2013

Graziano arrived in Xiamen as the executive chef of the Sheraton Hotel

The city’s laid-back sea breeze, bright sunshine, and free-spirited ambiance

reminded him so much of his hometown, Genoa

That this Genoese man, carrying a “map of flavors” in his heart

Couldn’t help but feel attached

“I want to bring the authentic flavors of my Italian homeland to Xiamen”

Graziano thought to himself

Driven by his immense passion for cuisine

Graziano decided to stay

“I decided to open my own restaurant in Huli District”

He recalled with a smile

And so, his very own restaurant

——BOLLO

officially opened its doors in Huli in 2019

Thus giving the flavors of Genoa a new home in Xiamen

From the kitchen to the restaurant

From behind the scenes to center stage

Graziano has chosen the simplest way

to share his “childhood memories of Genoa”

Not through words

But through a plate of authentic handmade pasta

A spoonful of meticulously slow-simmered tomato meat sauce

And a freshly baked, steaming Italian pizza

This is a romantic story woven between East and West

Graziano’s wife, Eli, is from Hong Kong, China

From acquaintance to companionship

And now running BOLLO side by side

They are living their everyday lives in Huli, Xiamen

It’s the warmth of the community

That made their foreign dreams take root and flourish

Eli said, “the longer we live here,

the more we feel at home.”

And their restaurant

has become a comforting haven for many living far from home

Here, you don’t need a plane ticket

to savor authentic Italian flavors

Here, every dish

is a fusion of life and passion

In Huli

Cuisine knows no borders

And neither does culture

As long as you’re willing to pause for a moment

In a single bite of pizza or a sip of rich soup

You can feel the warmth of the world

And the inclusivity of the city

With the “flavors of memory,” Graziano and his family

have drawn an Italian “sphere of daily life” in Huli

Their dedication also echoes a gentle promise:

“To keep living here.”

Graziano, owner of BOLLO: “Xiamen is a beautiful city with a great climate. Living in Huli is very comfortable. The inclusive environment of this city brings together people of all colors, making me feel like I’m not an outsider anymore. I love it here.”

In the next installment of “Foreigners in Huli Feel at Home”

we will continue our journey

Discovering more stories of

“settling down in Huli”

Stay tuned!