-- International award winning restaurant named with star for second year with new culinary team –
Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto — located on the 38th floor of Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle Hotel at 1 Harbour Square – has been named for the second year with a MICHELIN star in the 2023 edition of the MICHELIN Guide Toronto (www.guide.michelin.com) at a ceremony held last evening. Under executive chef, Davide Ciavattella, the culinary team at the lauded fine dining restaurant is proud to continue its award-winning tradition of culinary excellence, noted for its local flavours and ingredients, international inspiration and distinct creativity.
A history of unparalleled excellence
Chef Ciavattella hails from the flagship Don Alfonso 1890 on the Amalfi Coast, Italy where he trained with the MICHELIN-starred heritage of his mentors, chefs Alfonso and Ernesto Iaccarino. Ciavattella, together with his colleague, Daniele Corona — now executive chef at DaNico, the newest MICHELIN-style restaurant in the Liberty Group empire — moved to Toronto to execute the details of the original restaurant’s vision. Now both are proudly continuing its respected legacy.
“We’re thrilled to now have two MICHELIN recognized chefs within the Liberty Group,” says Nick Di Donato, president and CEO, Liberty Entertainment Group. “Being acknowledged for the second year confirms that Don Alfonso Toronto is justly world-class and in league with the absolute best restaurants and chefs around the globe. We’re proud of Chef Davide, his kitchen and the entire team for this achievement, which continues to uphold our reputation as a leading hospitality organization with a global vision.
Don Alfonso’s cuisine is characterized by its modernity, Mediterranean flare and the exceptional quality of the raw ingredients used, showcasing the renowned cuisine of Chef Iaccarino and the fresh flavors of the Mediterranean. The MICHELIN style is reflected in the eight-course tasting menu of uniquely crafted dishes; each dish is created with expert precision using the finest quality ingredients available and plated on one-of-a-kind dishes, selected specifically to highlight the food’s characteristics in a stunning presentation.
Earlier this month Liberty Group’s creative director, Nadia Di Donato was once again recognized by the UK’s international industry arbiter, design et al magazine in its 2023 International Hotel & Property Awards for Best Design Restaurant – Americas and Caribbean for Don Alfonso Toronto. The space, with its breathtaking panoramic views of the city, evokes a sense of style and modernity while acting as a canvas for the MICHELIN-starred food it presents; each décor detail and piece of furniture has been crafted from the finest materials, of which many were imported directly from Italy.
Since opening in 2018, Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto has been recognized with multiple national and international awards and honours, including Best Italian Restaurant in the World (outside of Italy) and Best Meal, by 50 Top Italy, Best New Restaurant in the World & Tre Forchette (3 Forks) – Gambero Rosso, Best Italian Restaurant in Canada & Top Ten of All Restaurants in Canada 2020 – La Liste, Distinguished Restaurants of North America – DiRoNA, Top 100 Restaurants in Canada 2019 – OpenTable, Best of Award of Excellence – Wine Spectator, and Best Restaurants in Canada 2019 – Canada’s 100 Best, among others. Reservations may be made at www.donalfonsotoronto.com.
Evolve Chef Highlight: Executive Chef Davide Ciavattella
Davide Ciavattella was born in Pescara, situated on the Adriatic Sea in Abruzzo, central Italy. As executive chef at Toronto’s Michelin-starred Don Alfonso 1890 in the Westin Harbour Castle hotel, Chef Davide’s culinary journey has included extensive travels throughout Italy, where he fully immersed himself in the country’s rich gastronomic culture. There he honed his culinary skills by working at prestigious Michelin-starred establishments and under the mentorship of award-winning chefs, in the pursuit of haute cuisine.
Chef’s culinary vision is profoundly influenced by the flavors of both the island of Capri and the Amalfi coast, highlighting strong culinary traditions liked to the terroir of southern Italy. There, Chef Davide had the privilege of studying under the award-winning chef Ernesto Iaccarino at Don Alfonso 1890, the two-starred Michelin restaurant based in Sorrento where he focused on innovative techniques while respecting the local food culture and the old traditions of the region. After mentorship under Chef Ernesto at the flagship Don Alfonso, Chef Davide was handpicked with chef Daniele Corona to move to Toronto to join the team at the Liberty Entertainment Group, with a mission to carry forward the legacy of Don Alfonso 1890 and its Italian culinary traditions, techniques and recipes, and expand and elevate the culinary offerings of the renowned establishment in Canada and on the international stage. Chef Davide brings the current cooking techniques and flavours developed at the flagship in Italy and adds a fresh approach to Ernesto Iaccarino’s signature dishes. Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto has since been recognized with the most prestigious international accolades, including the Michelin Guide, Tre Forchette Best New Restaurant by Gambero Rosso, Best Italian restaurant by 50Top Italy, La Liste, Wine Spectator’s Best of Excellence Award, and more.
Prior, Chef Davide worked in the kitchen of L’Olivo, the renowned, two Michelin-starred restaurant on Capri studying under chef Andrea Migliaccio; he then worked under chef Salvatore Elefante at Ristorante Capri, an esteemed one Michelin-starred fine dining establishment in Zermatt, Switzerland as well as at the famed Michelin-starred Terme di Saturnia — the distinguished destination spa and golf resort in Tuscany.
