TORONTO — Liberty Entertainment Group and Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto will host internationally acclaimed Michelin-starred chef, Vitantonio Lombardo of Ristorante Vitantonio Lombardo in Matera, Basilicata Lombardo, Italy, on November 14.
Lombardo will visit Toronto for a special guest appearance to co-host a celebration of Italian culinary heritage. A Taste of Italy: Gala for Culinary Excellence is a collaboration with Michelin award winning chef Davide Ciavatella of Don Alfonso for an evening of cocktails, fine dining and wines.
A portion of the gala’s proceeds will support scholarship funds for students enrolled in the advanced Italian Culinary Arts program, a course developed in partnership with ALMA and George Brown College. Esteemed guests partnering with Liberty Group for the fundraiser include the Consulate General of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute.
“We’re honoured to host chef Vitantonio in Toronto for this prestigious evening, celebrating a truly international partnership of cultural heritage,” says Nick Di Donato, president and CEO, Liberty Entertainment Group. “A Taste of Italy is a tremendous opportunity for us to underscore our commitment to promoting Italian culinary leadership, nurture the next generation of culinary talent at George Brown College, and lastly, showcase our great city and its burgeoning gastronomic scene.”
The cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m. and will feature aperitivi featuring local and imported ingredients including Wagyu beef, Nova Scotia lobster and fresh-caught tuna, followed by a six-course seated dinner. Highlights include Il Cannelone di Cipolla Rossa, Il Risotto with Grana Padano, peanuts, salted caramel and Italian black truffle, and the famed dish, Il Maialino Tonnato, a slow-cooked suckling pig tenderloin with tuna sauce, followed by La Sfogliatella Napoletana and La Piccola Pasticceria, to close.
