Cameron House Announces Chef Appointments to its Newest Restaurant, La Vista in Loch Lomond, Scotland

March 27, 2024

Following the recent opening of La Vista at Cameron House, we had the delightful opportunity to sit down with La Vista’s newly appointed Chef Pasquale Calvanese, Ivano Erme – Pizzaiolo / Chef De Partie, and Mercato Manager and Italian connoisseur, Adriano Pieri. We delved into their rich background and explored the journey that has shaped these maestros into the chefs they are today.

Pasquale Calvanese – Pastry Chef / Chef De Partie

Q1: Tell us a bit about yourself. Hi, I’m Pasquale, and I’m from Somma Vesuviana, which is 15 minutes away from Naples. I belong to the fifth consecutive generation in my family to pursue a career as a pastry chef. I moved to Scotland in 2018 and started at Cameron House in 2022, where our head pastry chef, Szilard, gave me the opportunity to join his team and trusted me with all my knowledge and skills.

Q2: Where is your favorite place in Italy? My favorite part of Italy, of course, is where I come from, Naples. I think it’s such a unique place. The “pizza” was born in Naples, the best and most famous dish in the world. Every time I go back home, on Sunday, my mum cooks the “Ragù Napoletano,” which reminds me of my childhood.

Q3: What is your most passionate belief about Italian cuisine? Pineapple does not belong on pizza!

Q4: What are you most excited about with the opening of La Vista? I’m excited about La Vista opening, you know why? Just tell me one Italian place in Scotland, at a 5-star hotel, with a view like that! There isn’t, and this makes La Vista a magical place already.

Q5: What dish do you recommend we try first? You must try the Italian antipasto plate or the burrata bombolone with gorgonzola. I highly recommend it. Once you get to the desserts, go for the tiramisù, made the proper Italian way, or the cannoli with ricotta, or even the Tartufo!

Q6: What is your #1 cooking tip you would like to share with our audience? Everything you would like to make, Italian cuisine or not, always try to find the best quality products and ingredients. This is exactly what we do here at La Vista, always trying to find the best ingredients to make your culinary experience unforgettable.

Ivano Erme – Pizzaiolo / Chef De Partie

Q1: Tell us a bit about yourself. Hi, I’m Ivano, and I’m from Naples, Italy. I moved to Scotland in 2017 and started to work as a pizza chef in Edinburgh. I had been traveling around the world, and I stopped here because I saw that there was a lot of opportunity to use my professional experience as a pizzaiolo. I met my girlfriend in Loch Lomond, which made me decide to find a place to work in the area, which is how I found Cameron House. A very unique place to stay and work.

Q2: Where is your favorite place in Italy? My favorite part of Italy is the South of Italy. Most importantly, it’s my place, Naples. Naples has given me really great memories, especially with the food that makes me love the job that I do now (Pizzaiolo).

Q3: What is your most passionate belief about Italian cuisine? For me, the most passionate belief about Italian food is to be proud of our amazing pasta. That’s what people recognize us for, so we should always be passionate about it.

Q4: What are you most excited about with the opening of La Vista? I’m really glad to be part of this amazing adventure called La Vista. This makes me really glad to be an Italian living abroad and to see all my colleagues cooking great Italian food.

Q5: What dish do you recommend we try first? Everything is good for our guests, but I will have to recommend the pizza.

Q6: What is your #1 cooking tip you would like to share with our audience? At home, always make pizza from scratch!

Adriano Pieri – Mercato Manager and Italian connoisseur

We’re proud to introduce Mercato Manager and Italian connoisseur, Adriano Pieri. With cultural roots in Northwest Italy, Adriano’s upbringing immersed him in the country’s rich cuisine, fostering a deep appreciation for the flavors and ingredients. He co-managed the family business, which encompassed Italian restaurants and delicatessens, offering a diverse array of culinary delights.