Pizza, pasta, panini, gelato, espresso, otto–who doesn’t like Italian cuisine? That’s why when I got invited to the opening of the Italian restaurant “Casa Italia” in Bonifacio Global City last December 10, I did not hesitate to attend.

Italian House

Casa Italia, as the name suggests, is a restaurant serving authentic Italian cuisine. It’s a modern day interpretation of the Italian bar serving a wholesome menu that anyone–from an 8 year old kid to an 88 year old grandpa or grandma–will surely enjoy.

Originally from Singapore, Casa Italia opened its first branch in the Philippines right in the heart of Bonifacio Global City: at Forbestown Road, Burgos Park. During its grand opening on December 10 until 8:00pm in the evening, they offered a serving of their gelato to the public for only P8! But invited media guests and bloggers got to taste everything for free. And what is the significance of the number 8 on the wall? You will find out later.

50+ All Natural Gelato Flavors

One of Italy’s gift to the world: Gelato! The Italian ice cream is popular across the globe because it’s bursting with flavor. And Casa Italia has more than 50 variants to satisfy your sweet tooth! From all-time favorites like Dark Truffle, Pistachio, classic Vanilla, to regional favorites like Durian and Green Tea, as well as tangy fruit sorbets, and other variants that are infused with liquor. These are made using top-quality natural ingredients imported mostly from Italy without any additional artificial flavors, chemicals, and preservatives.

We were able to taste as many flavors as we can during that day and it’s a moment of ice cream heaven! I must say, my favorites are green tea (I’d like to call it “matcha”), Toblerone, Earl Grey Tea, Crunchy Mocha, Cookies and Cream, and Strawberry Cheesecake.

Here are the steps in ordering a gelato at Casa Italia:

The “Gelati” sign, by the way, is the plural form of gelato (derived from the latin word “gelatus” meaning “frozen”) and it’s the first thing you’ll see when you enter Casa Italia. In other words, it’s an ice cream bar.

• Piccolo (1 scoop) – Php 130
• Medip (2 scoops) – Php 195
• Grande (3 scoops) – Php 260

Tip: You can combine three different flavors in a grande and it’s like getting three scoops for the price of two.

Otto: Casa Italia’s Signature Coffee

Otto means eight in Italian and it’s also the name of Casa Italia’s signature coffee blend. So why Otto? This is because the restaurant uses 100% Arabica beans that are never more than eight weeks old from roasting, guaranteeing full-bodied freshness in every cup.

When you see that number 8 on your cappuccino, latte, or espresso, you know that it’s authentic Italian coffee that Casa Italia is proud to offer. Hence the big number 8 on the wall.

A must-try is the seductive affogato, it’s a vanilla gelato topped with a shot of hot espresso.

Pizza-rriffic!

What’s an Italian resto without pizza? And since I’m a pizza-holic, the first thing I tried that day was this oven baked creation with caviar, shrimps, arugula and hard-boiled eggs:

I love all kinds of pizza. But this wonderful creation by Chef Donato, the one with caviar, shrimps, and hard boiled eggs is truly one of a kind. If you love authentic Italian pizza, visit CASA ITALIA in BGC. #ILoveCasaItaliaPH #FreshestCoffee #BestGelatoEver #pizza #food #foodporn #foodstagram #foodpic #foodie

A photo posted by Starmometer (@starmometer) on Dec 9, 2015 at 9:16pm PST

It was a special gourmet pizza made for the occasion by Chef Donato Mazzola. Unfortunately, it’s not on the menu. Fortunately for me, I got to taste it and it’s really really good!

What you can order at Casa Italia are the following:

• Mozarella
• Pepperoni
• Hawaiian
• Vegetarian
• Capricciosa

Here is the Pizza Capricciosa, filled with chicken and black olives:

Comfort Food

Casa Italia also boasts of tasty comfort food like chicken and pasta.

Their Roast Chicken with Potatoes is highly recommended.

The chicken is oven roasted to perfection. The meat is tender and juicy, while the skin is oozing with fresh rosemary and a hint of lemon, the way roasted chicken should be.

If you’re craving for pasta and lasagna, here are what I’d like to recommend: the Casa Italia beef lasagna…

and the Prawn Pasta:

Rest-assured that your orders are served hot off the oven by the friendly Casa Italia waiters.

By the way, Casa Italia is opening their second branch in SM North EDSA very soon!

For more details about Casa Italia, like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CasaItaliaPH.

Check out tons of Casa Italia food photos on Instagram by tracking the hashtags #ILoveCasaItaliaPH, #BestGelatoEver, and #FreshestCoffee.