21-04-2015
Antonio Guida and Federico dell’Omarino, respectively chef and executive sous-chef of the gourmet restaurant that should open by June inside the Mandarin Oriental in via Andegari 9 in Milan (the entrance to the restaurant will also be in Via Monte di Pietà 18). Both with a long experience in the kitchen of Hotel Pellicano in Porto Ercole, 2 Michelin stars, they are in Milan aspiring for the top. Alberto Tasinato will be the restaurant manager
In the jumble of Milanese, Expo-oriented openings, perhaps this is the most awaited debut. Awaited by inhabitants and tourists who will transit in Milan because it marks the arrival in Italy of Mandarin Oriental, the Chinese group of luxury hotellerie already present in 24 countries in the world, between Asia, America and Europe. The next fan will flutter on Italy (while there’s a second approaching opening in Marrakech).
This project, however, is most of all awaited by gourmet enthusiasts because the company can boast the highest proportion of restaurants with a Michelin star: if we’re not mistaken, there’s a total of 16 in the world (the most famous two? Heston Blumenthal’s Dinner in London-Knightsbridge). And then because at the helm, we know it since last July, there will be Antonio Guida, the formidable chef who climbed up to the second Michelin star on the back of Pellicano, on the Argentario. In the recent past, bets on the third star always included his name.
The rendering of the courtyard of the bar-bistro
The restaurant plan includes a fine dining restaurant and a bistro, both on the ground floor. The first will have its entrance at 18 Via Monte di Pietà and will be L-shaped, structured around an outside courtyard accessible in the winter too. The project, signed by architect Antonio Citterio, includes lots of wood and 15 different varieties of marble, following the strict Mandarin logic of always using raw materials representing the hosting country.
Mattia Pastori from Pavia: he will be the bar manager
Who will have the key positions? Alberto Tasinato is the restaurant manager, right after the opening of Berton and an old acquaintance (“old” so to speak: he’s not yet 30) of Milan’s restaurant scene (Al V Piano, Trussardi alla Scala also with Berton) and of Guida himself (he worked at Pellicano in 2008). Tasinato will be supported by sommelier Ilario Perrot.
Luca Finardi, general manager of Mandarin Oriental, previously at Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina (Messina)
Gabriele Zanatta’s opinion: on establishments, chefs and trends in Italy and the world
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born in Milan, 1973, freelance journalist, coordinator of Identità Golose World restaurant guidebook since 2007, he is a contributor for several magazines and teaches History of gastronomy and Culinary global trends into universities and institutes. twitter @gabrielezanatt instagram @gabrielezanatt