Liberty Group and Don Alfonso 1890 Welcome Chef Ernesto Iaccarino For Celebrating Italia!-Wed.,Jan.31st,2024

Posted by BK on February 2, 2024 in Arts, Events, Food and Drink, Life & Culture, premiere, Showcase | Leave a comment

Photography By Sally Warburton

Liberty Entertainment Group and Don Alfonso1890 Toronto – the award-winning, Michelin-starred contemporary Italian fine dining destination located on the 38th floor of Toronto’s celebrated Westin Harbour Castle Hotel at 1 Harbour Square – were thrilled to announce that Michelin-starred chef, Ernesto Iaccarino of Don Alfonso 1890 in Sant’Agata in Italy visited Toronto , to make special guest appearances and participate in Celebrating Italia! – a series of events celebrating the 20-year partnership between the prestigious Alma School of Culinary Arts and Canada’s George Brown College in Toronto.

Kicking off Tuesday January 30^th, Chef Iaccarino – with his team from Toronto headed by chef de cuisine, Davide Ciavattella — hosted a hands-on culinary Masterclass from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM at George Brown College in the Culinary Theatre #112, located at 300 Adelaide Street East.

On Wednesday, January 31^st, Toronto’s gastronomic  gathered at 5:30 PM for a ceremony to mark the 20 years between Alma and George Brown College. Featuring honoured guests, the Consul General of Italy, Andrea Sinigaglia, Alma Scuola’s general manager, and Rudi Fischbacher, Dean of GBC, the special guests addressed the successful program and present this year’s returning culinary graduate students with their certificates.

The high profile cocktail reception at 6:00 – 8:00 PM in the Grand Atrium  featured Italian-themed aperitivi, including a tasting station from guest chef Ernesto Iaccarino and the Don Alfonso team. Guest also graze through regional-themed stations including one highlighting the GBC Advanced Italian Culinary Arts program students.

“We are honoured to host Chef Iaccarino in Toronto for this prestigious event, celebrating a truly international partnership of culinary excellence,” said Nick Di Donato, president and CEO, Liberty Entertainment Group. “As our partner and mentor at Don Alfonso, it is a marvelous opportunity to highlight the award-winning leadership and talent of Chef Ernesto and the Don Alfonso brand to our esteemed guests and partners. Celebrating Italia! is an honour for us, as well as a testament to the city of Toronto, George Brown College, and its students, and finally, the city’s maturing culinary scene.

Don Alfonso:  memorably Michelin and more

Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto’s cuisine is characterized by its modernity, Mediterranean flare and the exceptional quality ofthe raw and locally sourced ingredients used, showcasing the renowned cuisine of Chef Ernesto Iaccarino at Don Alfonso 1890 and the fresh flavors of the Amalfi coast. 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 vessels selected specifically to highlight the food’s characteristics in a stunning presentation. All dishes are perfectly paired with the finest curated wines from the restaurant’s renowned cellar.

Another unforgettable year in review 

Marking the end of the restaurant’s best year ever, Don Alfonso 1890 has seen unprecedented success and earned five-star reviews and unmatched global recognition, including its Michelin star for a second year. Since first opening in 2018, Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto has been lauded with multiple honours including in the Best Italian Restaurant in the World 2024 — I Migliori Ristoranti Italiani Nel Mondo 2024 – given by the prestigious 50 Top Italy. Don Alfonso was the only Canadian restaurant to be recognized in the top ten on the world stage. In addition, its accolades include Best Italian Restaurant outside of Italy – Prosecco DOC Award 2022 – 50 Top Italy, Meal of the Year 2022 Mulino – Caputo Award, for its multi-course prix fixe tasting menu – 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 – La Liste, International Hotel and Property Awards – Restaurant Design Global, Distinguished Restaurants of North America –DiRoNA, Top 100 Restaurants in Canada – OpenTable, Best of Award of Excellence – Wine Spectator, and Best Restaurants in Canada – Canada’s 100 Best, among others. Dining information,menus and reservations are at www.donalfonsotoronto.com.

About Liberty Entertainment Group

For over three decades the Liberty Entertainment Group, led by Nick Di Donato, has been redefining Toronto and Miami’s restaurant, nightlife and special event experience. As developers and operators of numerous landmark establishments, the Liberty Entertainment Group has become recognized as one of the most successful and innovative companies in the industry. Liberty Entertainment Group continues to gain success and acknowledgment for developing an impressive roster of unique venues including Toronto’s premier special event facilities, Casa Loma and Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex. Liberty Entertainment Group is also responsible for the development of Toronto’s most prolific restaurants including BlueBlood Steakhouse, Don Alfonso 1890, DaNico, three Cibo Wine Bar locations (King West, Yonge St and Yorkville) and the soon-to-be-opened Blue Bovine Steak and Seafood House at Union Station. With over 500,000 square feet of hospitality space, the Liberty Group caters to a diverse clientele of upwards of 1.75 million people per year including A-list celebrities, sports personalities and industry leaders. Visit www.libertygroup.comand on social media @donalfonsoto #donalfonsotoronto @libertygroup #libertygroup.