This Italian Muslim Chef Opened Singapore's First Halal Italian Restaurant | Singapore Hour

I know a lot of people here. They recognize me and they always say hi to me. They also happy to see me. A white guy [music] reverting to Islam. In a way, they saw it as something [music] not seen every day. >> [music] [music] >> My name is Jerro. I am British [music] Italian born in the UK. Came to Singapore in 1996. It's about 30 years now. This is where I usually come every Friday to do my Friday prayers. >> A lot of community members. I see the minister here, celebrities as well. Tafi Batista also prays down here. First time was many many years ago. A little bit apprehensive when you first come to the mos. You have to follow the steps and then the more you come, the more it comes natural to you. Then you feel very very at ease. >> Hey man, how are you? >> Hey, good man. >> Good to see you. >> How are you? >> I'm good. Alhamdulillah. See you again before I go. Salam. >> I really enjoy mixing with the community. I feel very local when I come here. I feel really like I'm not white and they will tell me and say, "Chef, how are you? Thank you for the videos and that kind of thing." So, it's a lot of gratitude. The butter videos you like. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Good. >> Thank you. Thank you. Take care. Take care. >> Welcome to COA. I started cooa in 2016 because there was no Italian halal restaurant at that time. Mission is to have real Italian authentic food being halal. So that's where Singapore culture of having Chinese, Malay, Indian, anybody else [music] on the table and eating good quality Italian food. You enjoyed it? I heard it is your second time. >> Yes. >> Thank you. So, I'm going to make panakotta, a traditional Italian dessert. Cooked cream in direct translation. >> If your pan doesn't look like this, get out of the kitchen. [music] >> So, actually, it's one of my highest viewership videos on Tik Tok and Instagram. Over 2 million views of me going, "This is how to make panakotta." When the first videos went out, they kind of went, I wouldn't say viral viral, but they got a lot of reception. It made me a celebrity overnight which I didn't plan on. Strange feeling to have people coming outside you. Hey chef coming up. Want to take picture to you. [music] Literally melts. >> How are you? Nice to see you. Nice to see you. >> [laughter] >> Good chow chow. >> Wow, it's been a while, man. >> So, today I will prepare a few dishes for you guys. >> Thank you. >> As normal, I just do. >> Alhamdulillah. >> Sharon and her husband, they are close friends of mine now. They've been coming here since we first started in 2016, 2017. They always celebrate their birthdays here. They always come with the big family. So, this is the new picana with truffle mash in a nice [music] brown sauce. First time I was wondering local ammo halal restaurant. I was like never had that before 10 years ago. [music] >> And then we found out that chef's wife and my parents grew up in the same kong. So our families knew one another. Chef doesn't feel like someone who's a foreigner to us. It almost feels like okay honorary Malay, honorary Singaporean. >> But we born over cars. >> We born over cars. >> That's another passion. So Joe sells wonderful hypercars. This man allowed me to drive a Ferrari. My dream F12 Berlinetta. I will never forget that day. So I was like happiest man on earth. That day the smile cannot leave my face. I >> think we also bonded because chef has his parents overseas. We have our parents here. But >> I think the same concerns that we have as children seeing our parents grow older and and getting [music] um not so healthy. >> Then I lost my father and then >> and I lost my dad. Joe lost his dad. So >> it was all within a within a year sp >> I had to go to the funeral. There's no way that I was missing that. >> Thank you for that. >> You have been a supporter here. >> So [music] even I get emotional. >> Yeah. >> That's the friendship that goes beyond just having [music] food knowing that we've got friends who support us even beyond our [music] celebrations even during our sad times. >> Thank you so much. Yes. >> Thank you so much. Appreciate it a lot. Thank you. The first few years that I was here, I couldn't understand why people ate rice and noodles for breakfast. Well, I would consider lunch or dinner food, people eat the breakfast. Now I've changed my mind because now I will eat nazi lama for the morning. [laughter] But coffee, I will still stick to my Italian coffees. I always felt that one day I would leave the UK. Always dreary, always raining. I first came here for a 3 month holiday and the 3-month holiday became 30 years. [laughter] Once [music] I met my wife at the end of you know 1999 2000 I immediately knew that I wanted to spend [music] my life with her. She is Muslim Malay I knew I would have to revert to Islam. It was a little bit daunting initially. Dad being Roman Catholic uh we were never that strict in religion. Just a bit of a surprise I would say for him he didn't quite understand a lot of things. So had to do some explaining. But the thing was him was once he saw the grandchildren then he was like I'm fine with everything. Okay. 3 2 1 go. I give you a head start cuz I'm too fast for you. When the children were very young, used to come here, sit down, have picnics when they grow up a little bit older, have cycling, walk around. Sometimes we come here New Year's Eve and watch the fireworks from here. The first thing that I ever remember is the heat and the humidity getting off Changi airport, coming out of Changi Airport. But you grow to love it. Growing up, we live in the countryside. So, behind my house is the cycling [music] routes that I could take into the forest. I've always been an outdoor person. So, I wanted to translate that also to the children that it cannot always be indoor cooped up in our flats. Is good to get out and get fresh air. So, here I think a [music] bit more different for the children. They've had a nice childhood and I would say the safest place to bring up children in Singapore. This is my name in Japanese. So it says Chef Gerro. So I got this when I went to Osaka last year. If I wasn't a chef, I would think because that's my other passion. Probably something with cars. Pride and joy. The Ferrari apron is custom made. at home with mom and nona, my Italian grandmother, cooking all the time. We would make tomato sauce in huge batches and bottle them into bottles. Seeing food prepared that way sparked something in me when I was young and then from there I just wanted to pursue it. I'm not academically inclined. I'm more with my hands. My father was a hairdresser. My brother is also a handyman. So that's why being a chef, anyone's in the family. Here we are. Family dinner ready. I'm close to around four or five neighbors. So it's a very close-knit community. Actually, sometimes I give them extras and they're more than happy. [laughter] Mr. Mike, I made you something special today. >> I made you some pasta. I got extra pasta, so I'm going to pass it to you. >> And I got some nice cheese as well. Thank you. >> I know. I know you love cheese. I moved in here in 2019 and one day I bumped into the lift and he say he's staying next door. Most importantly, Chelsea supporters. >> Both Chelsea supporters. Good luck. >> So we connect. >> The best neighbor ever. >> You're lucky. >> Thank you. >> Bye-bye. >> My man. >> Hello. >> I got my fishing buddy. What's up? >> How are you? >> Well, today seems like so many people, man. That's good, man. >> Saturday. Saturday. >> Put first. Give it first. I put I put the whole rod. Put the whole rod inside there. Okay. Chef has been very busy lately, so we hardly get the chance to go and fish together. >> Last time was mid of last year. I think Joe caught. >> I lost to you. Oh, >> you lost to me? >> Yeah. Yeah. He kept warning me. >> How Singaporean am I? The accent has [music] changed over the years. >> Fing people say chef, where are you from? If I don't see your face, I would think that you are 100% [music] Singaporean. If I think about growing up, home is UK. >> Whatever it is. >> There you go. There you go. Oh, but I've actually spent more time in Singapore. So, home is now really here. This is where the life is. Thank you. Uh, thank you for today. >> No problem, brother. >> Really? Really? >> It's a pleasure. >> You You helped me a lot. >> Next time go. >> What? Okay. No finger.

When Gero DiMaria travelled to Singapore for a three-month holiday in 1996, he never expected to find love, faith and lifelong friendships in the lion city. With his halal Italian restaurant now gaining social media fame, discover how his adopted home continues to surprise him 30 years on. WATCH MORE Singapore Hour: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkMf14VQEvTZ3qsadQ4fa_GEgmB8wblj9 0:00 Intro 1:46 Opening Singapore's First Halal Italian Restaurant And Going Viral On TikTok 5:41 Moving To Singapore And Converting To Islam 8:48 Finding A Community In Singapore ==================== About the show: From street food to smart tech, traditions to trending lifestyles, Singapore Hour is your ultimate insider’s guide to travel, work, and play in the Lion City. ==================== #cna #singaporehourcna #athomewith #singapore #italian #expatlife #food #muslim #halal #tiktok For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER! https://cna.asia/insideryoutubesub Follow CNA INSIDER on: Telegram: https://t.me/CNAInsiderSG Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnainsider/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnainsider/ Website: https://cna.asia/cnainsider