Taste by Design: How Bertazzoni’s 140-Year Legacy is Elevating the Filipino Kitchen
A simple thesis took center stage at the launch of the new Bertazzoni flagship showroom in Makati: impeccable design leads to exceptional taste. The renowned Italian appliance brand Bertazzoni, gathered the country’s leading architects and designers for an evening titled “Taste by Design.” The event, held in partnership with BluPrint, was a compelling showcase of how a family’s 140-year legacy in engineering is shaping the future of the modern Filipino kitchen.
Heritage, Family, and Partnership
Bertazzoni traces its roots to Emilia-Romagna, a unique region in the heart of Italy famous for two seemingly opposite passions: fast cars and slow food. It is the home of both legendary engineering icons like Ferrari and Ducati and world-renowned culinary treasures like Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano-Reggiano. This cultural DNA—an obsession with technical precision balanced with the art of living well—finds its way into every Bertazzoni appliance.
This legacy of Italian excellence found its Philippine home through a trusted local family enterprise. For generations, Filipinos have grown up with La Germania in their kitchens, a brand synonymous with reliability. Its parent company, Bertazzoni, is the premium, design-forward expression of that same trusted heritage. The nearly 50-year partnership, dating back to 1976, bridges a legacy of trust with a new standard in luxury.
Claudia Tagle Espino, Bertazzoni Philippines’ Brand Manager, spoke to the brand’s enduring values. “For over a century, we have been at the heart of the home—binding families together and carrying forward a legacy that blends heritage, craftsmanship, and innovation,” she shared. “Today, as we move through modern times, that legacy continues to live and grow.”
A Triptych of Taste: Versatility in Design
Guests experienced this philosophy firsthand through the showroom’s three distinct collections, each engineered to provide a compelling solution for different design aesthetics.
For the discerning eye of an architect, the immediate impression was one of refined quality. “By looking at it, it’s very sleek, very Italian design. I think it’s very durable,” observed Arnold Austria of Jagnus Design Studio.
The Professional Series embodies strength and precision, making it the centerpiece of any kitchen. With its solid-metal control knobs, ergonomic handles, and finishes inspired by Italian luxury sports cars, the line delivers professional-grade performance wrapped in a design that exudes confidence and durability. It is built for those who want their kitchen to both perform and impress.
Versatility, however, is what truly sets Bertazzoni apart. As interior designer Nina Santamaria of Grupo Santamaria observed, “What makes Bertazzoni stand out is the many types of styles that it offers, especially the vintage, classic, contemporary styles.”
That versatility comes alive in the other two collections. The Modern Series speaks to a minimalist sensibility, featuring sleek planes of glass and accents of stainless steel, copper, and zinc. With its clean lines and seamless touch controls, it integrates effortlessly into contemporary homes where technology and elegance coexist.
Meanwhile, the Heritage Series honors Bertazzoni’s roots, drawing inspiration from its early 20th-century stoves. Rounded chrome knobs and polished handles lend a timeless character, while modern engineering ensures powerful and consistent performance. It’s a collection that bridges past and present—offering classic beauty without compromise on today’s standards of excellence.
Together, these three series present a design vocabulary broad enough to suit every kind of home, while remaining united by Bertazzoni’s core values of craftsmanship, performance, and Italian style.
The Architectural Context
This focus on high-quality kitchen design is more relevant than ever, as the kitchen’s role in the Filipino home has fundamentally changed. No longer a purely functional, hidden-away space, the kitchen has become a primary social hub. This shift has major implications for architects and designers, influencing open-plan layouts, demanding higher budgets for kitchen spaces, and requiring appliances that function as beautifully designed pieces of furniture.
Connecting these products to this bigger picture, BluPrint Editor-in-Chief Geewel Fuster explained the architectural significance. “Events like this matter because they remind us that the kitchen isn’t just a room—it’s the soul of the home,” Fuster said. “It’s where form meets function. Where innovation serves emotion. And where design, ultimately, becomes a lifestyle.”
To bring this thesis to life, Chef Don Baldosano of Linamnam took command of the showroom’s kitchen to test the brand’s claims by whipping up his iconic lechon porchetta. As he worked, his process became a live demonstration of the importance of precise temperature control. This task served to highlight the appliances’ capability for delivering consistent and uniform heat, a crucial factor for a successful result.
Guests were then treated to sample Chef Baldosano’s creation, and the enthusiastic reception was a testament to the successful fusion of culinary skill and engineering precision.
The Bertazzoni Vision for “The Sweet Life”
The evening’s demonstrations and discussions revealed more than just beautiful appliances—they reflected a lifestyle. As architect Misty Floro of Morfosis Design Studio observed: “Bertazzoni has perfected the technology, the engineering, and the design. In creating a home, it’s about building that perfect, sweet life you can live together with the Bertazzoni range of appliances.”
Grounded by a 140-year legacy and nearly 50 years of partnership in the Philippines, Bertazzoni is not only preserving its heritage but actively shaping the modern Filipino kitchen. It is a brand that turns the kitchen into the soul of the home—where design meets tradition, and where family memories are made.
To discover the art of cooking with Bertazzoni, visit their new showroom at G/F The Renaissance Condominium, 215 Salcedo Street, Legazpi Village, Makati, Metro Manila.
