Piccolo Padre's crest signage entices locals and visitors of Angeles City alike to a taste of flavorful and hearty Italian cuisine. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
Hearty pasta dishes, such as a too-die-for Gnocchi Gorgonzola and freshly-filled homemade Ricotta Cannoli, among other delectable things, are grabbing the locals’ attention at Piccolo Padre—the “other” Italian restaurant on bustling restaurant row Don Juico Avenue in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Piccolo Padre's Gnocchi Gorgonzola. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
Chef Dan Giampaolo, an Italian Chef originally from Milan, hails from a family of cooks that opened its very first Piccolo Padre 37 years back in Milan. A second Piccolo was established in Philadelphia shortly after the chef and his family migrated there. And in March 2011, the third Piccolo opened in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Chef Danilo Giampaolo with his wife Aida. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
The restaurant’s name, which translates to “Small Grandfather” in English, was obviously not named after the towering chef, who handles all the cooking himself to ensure that the quality of the cooking is maintained. So, please do not expect fast-food speed or service here. The chef’s Filipina wife Aida handles the front office duties, aside from making the fresh batch of noodles for the pasta dishes daily.
Fresh herbs lets the taste of succulent oysters stand out in Piccolo Padre's Oysters ala Genovese. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
Clams cooked in white wine at Piccolo Padre. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
Next week, Piccolo Padre, which originally just opened for dinner service, will start serving quality breakfast items with a major emphasis on Northern Italian cuisine, and specialty sandwiches, salads, and other lighter entrees for lunch, aside from late snacks. This is to start preparing its staff for the restaurant’s transfer to a bigger and more upscale location (to nearby Queens Hotel) sometime in December this year or January 2013. But, the restaurant will still remain closed on Mondays.
• Piccolo Padre (Angeles City, Pampanga), 566 Don Juico Avenue, Perimeter Road, Clarkview (045) 875-6050 or (0917) 5004750.
Piccolo Padre's Homemade Ricotta Cannoli. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
