What's in a Name? The Story Behind The Names of Divino Taipei, Focoso, and Divino Enoteca

Have you ever found yourself wondering how our Italian restaurants got their names? If you don't speak Italian, we appreciate your confusion!

Today, that’s exactly what we’re exploring. Come with us as we unpack the meanings of our three Italian restaurants in the Divino Group: Divino Taipei, Focoso, and Divino Enoteca. You know these names are synonymous with good food, good wine, and great times in Taipei - but how did we get there?

Divino Taipei: Finding Inspiration in Wine and the Divine

We find the Binomio Montepulciano Reserve extremely divine.

Divino’s name is a play on words in Italian. It literally means “of wine” (di vino), but it also means “divine” or holy. Now, we aren't saying all of your experiences will be divine and holy…but we certainly hope it inspires you and leaves you feeling great about your life!

Owner Chef Enrico Negrini chose the name in 2016 before opening the first flagship restaurant, after brainstorming at least 50 other names. Ultimately, he settled on this name because he felt it had the most to live up to:  "Divino Taipei is more than a label; it's an embodiment of the promise—good food, good wine, great times.”

He said that he intentionally wanted to use the word wine somewhere in his restaurant name because he thinks - and most Italians agree - that wine should always have a place at the dinner table. 

“If you don’t have wine with your meal, you’re doing it wrong,” he jokes.

But what about the divine concept?

Enrico admits that he isn’t that religious, but to him it doesn’t matter whether the name is an actual homage to God, so much as it is an aspiration for him as a chef. “I don’t just want you to have a great time at Divino. I want you to see our meals as small prayers of thanks for the world in which we live and the amazing things that happen to us every day. I honestly believe that even the smallest part of your day can and should remind us of something bigger than ourselves,” said Enrico.

Focoso: Igniting Flames and Flavors

Picture of a flame-covered Fiorentina T-bone steak

Focoso is Chef Enrico’s second restaurant, located conveniently just a few blocks away from the first Divino. For this second restaurant, he wanted to go in a slightly different direction and so he chose a different name. 

Focoso literally means “on fire” in Italian, and all of the foods there are influenced by a wood grill fireplace. 

Head Chef Luc Yang notes, "At Focoso, it's the spark that lights up not just the dishes but the entire dining atmosphere. It's about good food, good wine, and great times in the glow of the flame."

Divino Enoteca: Chef’s Neighborhood Retreat for Wine Lovers

Two bowls of Divino Enoteca's famous home cooked lasagna alla Bolognese - because one isn't enough.

And so we come to the story behind our third and most recent restaurant: Divino Enoteca. Divino Enoteca contains the same play on words in Italian (“of wine” and “divine”), but it goes beyond that. An “enoteca” means small wine store in Italian, which is our hope for our third restaurant. We hope it is your go-to spot when you crave Italian wine in Tianmu!

Chef Enrico says that Divino Enoteca was inspired by the neighborhood of Tianmu, which is where he and his family call home. “I wanted to create the neighborhood’s local Italian place with home cooked meals that I would want to go to. I even made it so that the schedule aligns with my own days off so that I can enjoy my own creations. There’s nothing better than a glass of wine on the patio on a hot summer day - or a delicious lasagna alla bolognese on a Sunday evening with my wife and two dogs.

Divino Enoteca’s menu takes this “family friendly” idea to heart, and its menu contains our most traditional Italian dishes, ones that your whole family will enjoy.

Divino Enoteca’s Manager William Wilson expresses, "I love that Divino Enoteca is a local retreat, and it’s wonderful to see the same people come to our tables week after week.. It really is a local haven where many of our customers have standing reservations. After a while, our customers here become more like family."

The Divino Restaurant group team on the porch of Divino Enoteca at a staff training event.

As we unwrap the stories behind these names, we invite you to share in the joy of good food, good wine, and great times at Divino Italian Restaurant Group in Taipei. Each name encapsulates not just a label but a commitment to creating memorable experiences and fostering a sense of community around the table. We hope to see you at one of our locations soon - and until then, buon appetito!