A well traveled Italian in Beijing

At 38, Giovanni Ricci has already chalked up 23 years in some of the world's best kitchens - including the Sheraton Bologna in Italy and the Hilton Prague in the Czech Republic. More recently, he ventured to Asia with a stint at the Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he was responsible for the 100-seat award-winning Senja Restaurant.

Ricci comes from San Benedetto del Tronto, an active fishing port and one of the main seaside resorts on the central Adriatic coast in Marche, Italy - and the maritime influence is reflected in his shrimp salad and seafood platter.

But he is also schooled in classic Italian, as marked by the chef's tiramisu, a dessert that has already won him accolades and an award in Malaysia.