By ELIZABETH FRIAS
FROM day one renowned restaurateur Maurice Terzini anchored CicciaBella at Parramatta Square, he stayed true to his words to make dining an enjoyable family affair.
Thus, CicciaBella created classic Italian dinners that are fun, healthy, and hearty for the bambinos, as it is for parents whom Terzini urge to showcase the hidden artistic talents of their Kindergarten to Year 6 children.
His six-year-old son Caesar helped design the inaugural Kids’ Art Prize in search for unique artworks from among Western Sydney’s youngsters inspired by the foods they love to eat at CicciaBella.
Entrants submit their best ideas made with paint, collage, pencil art or glitters, that bring out their creative juices how they interpret CicciaBella’s bambini menu such as the range of Italian pasta, tomato sugo, bolognese, chicken cotoletta, fries and scoops of delightful gelatos.
CicciaBella provides participants a special art pack to create their Italian food-inspired designs including a blank canvas (35cm x 35cm), information card, tote bag and CicciaBella apron to get those ideas flowing.
Terzini says CicciaBella has a “childish passion for art and nothing is really curated [so] it only seemed appropriate that we got the kids involved.
“Our commitment to the community where we are is an important part of the CicciaBella ethos as much as good food and service.”
The arts contest also runs at Terzini’s flagship, Icebergs on Bondi, and the overall winners from entries receive complimentary meals for a whole year.
Judging along with Terzini and Caesar are Archibald Packing Room Prize Winner, Jamie Preisz, who won the 2018 coveted prize for his portrait of singer Jimmy Barnes; author Andrew Levins and magazine publisher, Jess Blanch. Judges for Icebergs’ entrants are artist Vicki Lee, interior designer Michael Delany and sculptor Dion Horstmans.
The children’s creations where hung on the walls of CicciaBella Parramatta and Icebergs Bondi for public viewing in June.
“We’ve always had a passion for art as you can see in our venues,” says Terzini. “Caesar loves art and often goes to galleries with his mum or I so the idea for the competition formed through that.”
Expanding from Bondi to Parramatta Square last year, Terzini describes his venture “incredible out here so far,” adding he has seen an “inspirational diversity of culture which is exciting for us.”
Terzini says CicciaBella’s Macquarie Street location, at the heart of Parramatta City interconnected to public transport hub is an attraction. “We’d really like to see more people in the streets and hopefully a better bar scene.”
Visit www.cicciabella.com.au
Image: Kids at CicciaBella show off their creations.
