Michelin Star Awarded to Il Comandante

Michelin Star Awarded to Il Comandante, Restaurant of the ROMEO Hotel in Naples, Italy A new star is shining in the sky of Italian cuisine.

14 November 2012 - Il Comandante, the restaurant of the Romeo hotel in Naples, Italy, has just been awarded its first Michelin star. This recognition by Michelin, the most prestigious international gastronomic guide in the world, honors restaurants for excellence in quality and service based on a sum of evaluation criteria: the selection of products, the personality of the kitchen, the mastery of cooking techniques and quality/price balance.

"We are honored to receive this award that rewards the chef and all the efforts made by our team to date, which encourages us to do better work", said Stefano Petrucelli, director of the hotel. "A Michelin star is a great starting point for all of the professionals who work at the Romeo hotel everyday and contribute to making it a dynamic and contemporary host of international luxury".

The Chef: Recognition by Michelin comes to the restaurant less than one year after the arrival of Executive Chef Salvatore Bianco, who joined the Romeo hotel in February 2012. Young, but with solid experience in the top kitchens of Italy, Bianco's dishes are expressions of rare elegance created from only the highest quality raw materials and carefully prepared so as to avoid altering the taste and nutritional values of each ingredient. Originally from Torre del Greco, Chef Bianco grew up on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, studied at Vico Equense, and was trained in important kitchens in Capri, St. Moritz, Sorrento, the Chianti region, Port'Ercole, Milan and Rome.

The Kitchen: The success of the kitchen hinges on the highest quality ingredients. Everything starts with respect for, and selection of, the finest raw materials - from the search for new combinations that do not alter the original flavor of the ingredients to taking care of every detail. The result is carefully prepared and elegantly presented, healthy food featuring typical Mediterranean and Italian flavors. Also noteworthy is the extensive wine cellar that is continually updated.

Il Comandante: On the tenth floor of the five star Romeo hotel is the location of the most innovative restaurant in the city of Naples - Il Comandante. The restaurant features breathtaking views of both the Bay of Naples and the city: on one side, the sea and Capri, on the other, the San Martino hill and city lights. Il Comandante embodies the many souls of Naples with an elegant ambience that expertly combines a variety of styles. Particularly noteworthy are the works of contemporary art: Neapolitan

artist Lello Esposito has created two site-specific installations as a tribute to Naples and Sergio Fermariello created the innovative steel tables, entitled "Fragments of a shipwreck."

The main dining room can accommodate up to 52 people. Four tables have a view of the kitchen and view over the city and hill of San Martino. The others feature a view of the bay and port of Naples. In a privileged central location, with breathtaking view of the sea, is the chef's table. The table is run directly by the chef and is embellished with an antique Japanese canon from the Edo Period, rare porcelain, and Hermes table linen. Seating up to 10 people, guests at the table are guided entirely by the inspiration and professionalism of the chef's "freehand" tasting menu.

-----------------------------------ROMEO hotel - Via Cristoforo Colombo, 45, 80133 Naples, Italy - T +39 081 017 5001 www.romeohotel.it The ROMEO hotel is a 5 star hotel in Naples Italy located on the waterfront near the city's vibrant historic center, featuring breathtaking views of Mt. Vesuvius, Capri and the Sorrento Coast. Rated by Conde Nast as one of the best new hotels in the world, the ROMEO features a brand new 10,000 sq ft luxury spa, rooftop pool, Michelin starred restaurant, sushi restaurant, and stylish Beluga SkyBar.