Antonino Scordo’s China adventure was triggered by the story of legendary Italian explorer Marco Polo (1254-1324), who traveled to the same country over 700 years ago. “When I was a child, I saw Il Milione on RAI,” he said, referring to the mini series The Adventures of Marco Polo on Italy’s national TV. “The exquisite Chinese food deeply impressed me and I decided one day I would explore this exotic country myself.”
Scordo, Nino to his friends, comes from a culinary family in Sicily, southern Italy, inheriting his mother’s passion for cooking. Since his arrival in China in 2010, he has traveled around the country – from Guangdong in the south to Shanghai in the east, and then Beijing in the north. Currently the executive sous chef at Jinling Hotel’s Restaurant Pacific Grill in Nanjing, Nino, inspired by the rich diversity of Chinese cuisine, has crafted many creative dishes, blending Western food with Chinese culture.
“Recently, I read the news of China’s new visa-free policy, which allows foreign nationals to stay in the country for up to 240 hours,” he said. “This is a commendable action that sends a strong message to the international community. I immediately informed my Italian friends and relatives, inviting them to visit China.”
Nino enjoys the night view in the centuries-old Tai’erzhuang ancient town along the Grand Canal.
Gourmet Tour on the Grand Canal
Fascinated by Chinese culture and food, Nino often travels around to find new inspirations. “I visited some cities along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, accompanied by an editor of Gourmet magazine. From north to south along the water route, the cities were Tai’erzhuang, Huai’an, Yangzhou and Hangzhou.” It was a journey worth taking, with beautiful scenery, local delicacies, and a rich folk culture experience.
“Traveling along the Grand Canal was a wonderful experience,” he told China Today. “What stood out for me most was the historical cities and their distinct cultural heritage.” Every city they visited had an exceptional cuisine, particularly specialty delicacies that told stories about the region. “But it was not just the food that drew me in; it was the people, their kindness, and the customs passed down through generations,” he added.
In Tai’erzhuang ancient town, a centuries-old water town rebuilt after its destruction by shelling during World War II, Nino tried some local snacks – the thin and crispy Shandong pancake rolled in with green onions and sprinkled with sesame, food representing the creativity and simplicity of Shandong people and their culinary skills. The pancakes were made from grains transported via the Grand Canal, and the stones on the waterside were used as a special medium to transfer heat to the dough, making it crisp.
“It was said that Qing Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) had traveled there and acclaimed Tai’erzhuang as the top town in his empire.” Nino also marveled at the folk performances – the drums, walking on stilts, and the suona, the traditional double-reeded trumpet-like musical instrument. He attended a traditional Chinese ceremony, Finding Mr. Right, in which the men try to catch a silk ball thrown by a young lady. “I was fortunate enough to catch the red silk ball and went up the gate tower to take a photo with the ‘bride’!” he laughed.
In Yangzhou, a former capital city historically famous for its poets, artists and scholars, Nino was intrigued by the mix of historical and modern architecture, as well as its strong ties to Marco Polo, who stayed there for three years and wrote about it in his travelogue. Nino visited the Marco Polo Memorial Hall, the only museum dedicated to the Italian traveler in China, which has exhibits on his epic journeys and highlights his deep affection for Yangzhou and excellent observations of the city. During his stay in Yangzhou, Marco Polo noted that the city was more than an administrative center; it was also a hub of politics, the economy, culture, and military affairs in the Yangtze-Huaihe region, Nino said.
A typical day in Yangzhou begins with a visit to the teahouse for exquisite dim sums, an array of snacks consisting of fried and steamed delicacies like dumplings and crab meat buns. Then visitors can take a boat for sightseeing on the serpentine Slender West Lake and visit the Ge Garden, a magnificent private garden named due to its profusion of bamboo plants, whose leaves resemble the Chinese character 个 “ge”. The Dongguan ancient street is a must-visit to try the renowned Nanjing salted duck, and explore local woodblock printing art, guqin music and Yangzhou pinghua, a recitation in the local dialect. And foot massages are another must-try in Yangzhou, adding to the enjoyment of a slow-paced lifestyle and driving away the fatigue of the day.
Nino also suggests a long list of classic local cuisine dishes: Yangzhou fried rice, Wensi tofu soup, and lion’s head pork meatballs. “It’s amazing how a chef can make such delicious fried rice by simply cooking leftover rice with some finely chopped colorful ingredients. It reminded me of the food in my Sicilian home, an unforgettable memory for me,” he said.
Nino tries his hand at a loom at the Nanjing Yunjin Brocade Museum on December 19, 2024.
Storytelling in Nanjing’s Museums
Nanjing is now Nino’s second home where he invites his friends to visit him. “In Nanjing, I would take them to the Confucius Temple area, or Fuzimiao, near the Qinhuai River, to enjoy traditional Chinese culture in the city center,” he said. Then there are the city’s historical landmarks. “I would also take them to the Purple Mountain, which has some of the most fascinating historical monuments, including the Ming Tombs.” The Xiaoling Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), a World Heritage Site, is the final resting place of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the dynasty, and his empress Ma.
He also recommends smaller, less touristy destinations, like the Tangshan Hot Springs, located east of the Zhongshan Gate on Nanjing’s ancient city walls. For ages, emperors, prominent officials, and private citizens sought out the waters, known for their therapeutic quality. “It is one of my favorite places,” Nino said. It is an excellent way to immerse yourself in nature while also learning about China’s centuries-old traditions.
Besides these iconic places, Nino’s list contains the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, to better comprehend the city’s courage and resilience. The city survived one of the most horrific massacres during World War II, but from the ashes of such devastation, the people rebuilt it, remembering the sacrifices of the fallen.
To see a mix of the old and new, Nino also suggests the Nanjing Eye pedestrian bridge, an architectural wonder built by the legendary Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, which he says perfectly captures Nanjing’s spirit of modernism and tradition.
Nanjing has more than 150 museums with distinctive features, such as the Oriental Metropolitan Museum, or Six Dynasties Museum, Nanjing Yunjin Brocade Museum, Nanjing Ming Dynasty City Wall Museum, and Nanjing Imperial Examination Museum of China, all of which are excellent tourist destinations.
In the Six Dynasties Museum, the pottery figurines and tableware stoke Nino’s imagination: “From the tableware, I see people’s daily life some 1,500 years ago, when Nanjing was called the Oriental Metropolis,” he said.
The tableware is accompanied by a list of the food people ate in the period, which included fruits, soups, meat and vegetable dishes. The most common dish was duck. “In Nanjing, people eat duck in all forms – roasted, salted, or with osmanthus. I had never imagined that the habit has such a long history!”
Nino was inspired and decided to make a creative duck dish himself, a combination of both Chinese and Western flavors, a typical Nanjing-style jambalaya. To serve the dish, he chooses a coarse pottery platter with a texture similar to that of ancient tableware, making the entire presentation look more authentic and antique.
In addition, Nino has created the Zhuangyuan abalone. Zhuangyuan is the topper in the imperial examination, while abalone represents good fortune in Chinese culture. He has also made an Italian specialty food Tartare with Nanjing salted duck and shredded red pepper, which looks like the ancient wall of Nanjing decorated with maple leaves in autumn. He wants his friends to taste these creative dishes when they visit China so that they can savor the blend of Eastern and Western cultures, as well as tradition and modernity.
A lucky Nino catches the red silk ball thrown by a young woman at a traditional Chinese ceremony, Finding Mr. Right.
The Beauty of Chinese Culture
Beijing is of course on the list of Nino’s favorite cities, with its rich cultural heritage and historical sites such as the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace and now a national museum, and the Great Wall. Hangzhou is another attraction, where he enjoyed the traditional tea culture by the stunning West Lake. “The intangible cultural heritage of these places was really enriching, giving me a better grasp of China’s cultural legacy. These cities, highlighting China’s rich beauty and heritage, are must-see destinations,” he said.
He has realized that many foreigners would be interested in learning about traditional Chinese culture if it is presented in a way they understand. One way to make them understand Chinese culture, according to Nino, is to emphasize the universal principles that run throughout its long history, such as the importance given to the family, high regard for peace, and respect for cultural diversity. Therefore, he recommends participatory experiences like tea ceremonies, calligraphy workshops, or hands-on cultural exhibitions, which will make the essence of Chinese culture more engaging and understandable.
And food is probably the most straightforward approach to cross-cultural interactions. Though Italian and Chinese cuisines are very different, they share certain essential similarities, such as the use of noodles, which is a common thread in both cultures. “Food is an excellent opportunity to make relationships and bring people together. This is something I aim to achieve at my restaurant, combining these two wonderful culinary traditions,” Nino said.
Currently, Nino is leading food-related exchange programs between Nanjing and the city of Sorrento on the Naples coast, which will also extend to Matera, one of the oldest cities in the world renowned for its cave dwellings. “Food can be an excellent way to bring people together,” he said. “It is encouraging to see China making progress toward ensuring a smoother travel for foreigners. We expect these regulatory adjustments will help attract more overseas visitors, thereby promoting more cultural interaction.”
He is also looking forward to more policies on expats’ education, taxation, and permanent residency, which will make China a more appealing destination for international professionals.
