Team
Our staff are our most important asset. They comprise of professionals recruited from around the world with vast experience and local HongKongers whose talent in hospitality matches international standards anywhere.
They’ve all joined 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA with enthusiasm and passion for fine dining, quality service, and above all, to provide each guest an unforgettable experience and complete satisfaction, in line with Chef BOMBANA ’s hospitality philosophy.
Antonello Picchedda – General Manager
Restaurant
Antonello Picchedda - General Manager
Born in Sardinia and raised in Veneto, Picchedda’s passion for fine cuisine and beverage dates back to his teenage days. After graduating the Hotel Management School of Treviso, Picchedda explored wine and became a certified sommelier, from the Italian Sommelier Association (AIS). While on military service between Friuli and Emilia-Romagna, he also discovered his passion for cheese and olive oil.
Picchedda has worked for iconic Relais and Chateaux hotels and restaurants across Veneto and Tuscany. In 2005, he obtained a Master of Slow Food Award for extra virgin olive oil and national and international cheeses. In 2006, he opened his own gourmet shop in Treviso, which was awarded the national Slow Food Prize for “Shop of Good Cheese”. In 2007, he obtained a cheese taster diploma from the Italian Association ONAF (National Association of Cheese Tasters).
After exploring and studying international viticulture in the United States and Australia, he arrived in Hong Kong in 2013 and working as Sommelier and Restaurant Manager in different Italian restaurants and finally joining Lai Sun Dining Group in 2017. After being a vital part of Beefbar’s staff, Picchedda now takes an even larger role on Chef Bombana’s team.
Alan Lam – Restaurant Manager
Alan Lam - Operation Manager
Hong Kong native Lam has over 20 years of experience in hospitality, beginning his story at the JW Marriott Hotel from 1998 to 2003. Lam was also on the opening team at the Michelin-starred L’ Atelier de Joël Robuchon restaurant and furthered his career with the re-opening of the Grand Hyatt Steakhouse in 2011. In 2013, he was appointed 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA’s restaurant manager and is proud to take Chef BOMBANA’s team to the next level.
Leo Kwong – Assistant Manager
Leo Kwong - Assistant Manager
Born in Hong Kong, Kwong has worked for numerous hotels, including Hotel Nikko, the Kowloon Hotel, the Royal Plaza Hong Kong, and the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong. Although he first met Chef BOMBANA back in 2003, Kwong would go on to work at fine Italian restaurant Domani. In 2010, he joined the new team to open 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA in Hong Kong and then its sister restaurant in Shanghai in 2012. Today, he is proud to be the assistant manager of Chef BOMBANA’s team.
Kenji Torres – Head Sommelier
Kenji Torres - Head Sommelier
Born and raised in the Philippines, Kenji Torres came to Hong Kong in 2008. More than a bartender, he aims to hone his mixology skills in a fine dining setting. In 2016, he received his first certification in wine and joined the 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA team in 2017. Now as an Advanced Sommelier of The Court of Master Sommeliers, Torres manages the restaurant’s almost 7000 bottles of wines.
Jayson - Spirit Expert
Jayson - Spirit Expert
Jayson was born and raised in the Philippines. He has over 12 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, primarily in Hong Kong. Throughout his career, he has worked at various levels of management and have been involved in opening new restaurants and bars at the Lai Sun Dining Group.
During his time in Hong Kong, he developed a deep fascination with the world of mixology and a special interest in the realm of spirits, particularly whiskey. He has been actively participating in spirits masterclasses and, in 2018, he enrolled in and successfully completed a professional whiskey course at Whiskey U in Hong Kong, obtaining a professional whiskey certificate.
As a manager and spirit expert, he has demonstrated a strong history of working in the high-end hospitality industry, including hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants. He is skilled in hospitality management, encompassing both front-of-house and back-of-house operations. His expertise extends to the food and beverage industry, further bolstered by his professional whiskey certificate.
Regina - Reception Manager
Regina - Reception Manager
Regina, our seasoned reception manager, is deeply committed to providing exceptional guest experiences. Leveraging over a decade of expertise within the hospitality realm, Regina is a paragon of 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA, possessing a formidable skill set that she leverages to deliver customer service of the excellence. Her unwavering dedication to exceeding expectations has cemented her reputation as an invaluable asset to us.
