INFO: Buon Appetito! Italian Festival Returns to Four Seasons Resort Orlando

Ravello, the modern-Italian restaurant at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, is bringing back its popular Italian Festival featuring a five-course truffle dinner and special prix-fixe menu highlighting Italian cuisine. The special dinner offerings take place January 28 through February 2, 2020.

Executive Chef Fabrizio Schenardi, who hails from Torino, Italy, oversees the Resort’s six restaurants and banquet operations, though Ravello is where his true passion lies. Everything in Ravello is house-made with authentic ingredients imported straight from Italy, such as the flour used in the pastas and pizza dough. Chef Schenardi will host the Italian Festival along with guest chefs from the Region of Piedmont in Italy and the Italian Food Style Education (IFSE) Culinary Institute, which the Resort first partnered with in October 2016.

Special guests include Chef Riccardo Marello, a culinary director and teacher at IFSE and a member of the Italian Chef Federation, as well as Chef Piero Rainone, who attended culinary school with Chef Schenardi in Torino more than 30 years ago and is also a member of IFSE and the Italian Chef Federation. Ugo Mura will represent IFSE as an Italian wine expert.
“I am very excited to bring back the Italian Festival,” says Schenardi. “It is an honour to cook with such talented chefs who have the same passion for sharing the traditional flavours of Italy.”

Truffle Dinner
The highlight of the event, the five-course truffle dinner, will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 6:30 pm at Ravello, and each course will feature the Piedmont Truffle from Italy and a wine pairing.

First Course

Salt roasted veal, Roccaverano Robiola cheese spuma, almond biscotto, truffle
Coppo, Gavi di Gavi, 2018

Second Course

Slow cooked egg, light cauliflower-anchovy cream, winter vegetables, truffle
Coppo, ‘L’Avocata’, Barbera d’Alba, 2017

Third Course

Pumpkin risotto, Castelmagno cheese, foie gras, natural jus, truffle
Coppo, Barolo Select, 2015

Fourth Course

Lamb loin, hazelnuts, glazed shallots, crunchy polenta gnocchi, carrot puree, truffle
Reversanti, Barolo, 2014

Dessert

Milk air, egg yolk vanilla crumble, hazelnut spuma, creamy chestnut, shaved chocolate salame
Coppo, Moscato d’Asti, 2018

The dinner is available for USD 195 per person (all inclusive) and must be reserved in advance by calling 407 313 6161. This is highly recommended!

Prix-Fixe Dinner
Additionally, guests can enjoy a three-course prix-fixe menu in Ravello for USD 56 per person from Tuesday, January 28 through Sunday, February 2, 2020.

First Course

Beef tartare, toasted hazelnut butter, artichoke and parmesan cheese salad

Second Course

Handmade Tajarin Piedmont pasta, white meat ragout, leek cream

Dessert

Gianduja milk chocolate, hazelnuts, raspberry sorbet

Guests may also order the above dishes a la carte. For reservations, call 407 313 6161.

About IFSE
IFSE is the only cooking school that is acknowledged by the General Secretary of The Italian Republic, referred to as the most innovative school of Italian cuisine. The school safeguards and promotes Italian nutrition and excellence through training courses, conferences, conventions and more. IFSE collaborates with food experts, nutritionists and agronomists of international acclaim to promote high quality education and focus on the health-related aspects of food. Students are trained in the principles of healthy cooking and the Mediterranean diet.

About the Author: DBTN - FOUNDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF DBTN

My enthusiasm for all things Disney all started when my parents took our family to WDW for a vacation. My first trip was at age 13. Since that first time, I have made a trip to WDW almost every year from age 13. As far as I knew there was only one place to vacation! My fascination with WDW began on that first trip. I wanted to know how things at WDW operated and what made it so magical. I wanted to know details like how many people worked there and the length of the monorail track. It is that fascination that fueled my interest in WDW. Each year that my family vacationed at WDW, I learned more about WDW as they built more parks and added more attractions. I am not the average fan; I want to know all the details and I love researching the facts of WDW. I research facts through the Internet, books and DVDs. To me, the best part is to conduct research trip at WDW. After college, my father was transferred to Orlando and I moved with my parents. Seeking employment, I applied for a job at WDW. I passed the first rounds of interviews and was proud to join the Disney family as a security cast member! The job was great. It included Disney-specific training and security training before assuming four duties: driving a security vehicle, standing a post, working in a resort or walking a park or other area. Sometimes I even had special duties like working the Epcot Christmas Processional. I would escort the celebrity guests from backstage to onstage. Interestingly, every cast member is given a WDW fact book monthly to aid in answering guest questions. The pocket book contained great Disney facts that added more fuel for my thirst of Disney facts. Well, all-good things must come to end so we moved back to NJ. In the summer of 2010 I moved back to Florida I am now living in Orlando less then 15 minutes from WDW and living the dream and have fun along the way. Favorite Park – Magic Kingdom Favorite Character – Mickey Mouse Favorite restaurant – California Grill Favorite attraction – Toy Story Mania Favorite resort – Bay Lake Tower / Contempoary First time at a disney park – 1976 & have been every year since Who was on your first disney trip – My entire family Favorite disney memory – My first trip and my first trip with my kids How far do you live from disney now – 15 minutes When is your next Disney trip? – every weekend Favorite Disney Movie – Jungle Book & Toy Story

INFO: Buon Appetito! Italian Festival Returns to Four Seasons Resort Orlando