• RISTORANTE ITALIA di MASSIMO BOTTURA

ISTANBUL

Ristorante ltalia di Massimo Bottura, a contemporary Italian fine dining restaurant inside Istanbul's new Eataly, will open to the public on 27th May 2014.

Massimo Bottura is the highly regarded chef-patron of the three Michelin starred Osteria Francescana in Modena, a restaurant that has been voted best restaurant in Italy many times and currently sits at #3 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list. Whilst Ristorante ltalia will take some inspiration from the award winning establishment in Modena, Massimo Bottura's first restaurant outside of Italy will be an entirely unique proposition.

At Ristorante ltalia traditional Italian flavours and contemporary cooking techniques come together to bring the very best of the past into the future. Massimo Bottura has reworked 1 00 classic Italian recipes from the northern Alps to the southern tip of Pantellieria to embrace the diversity and bounty of the Italian kitchen. The resulting dishes form the repertoire from which the menus are drawn. Iconic Italian dishes have been challenged, reimagined and transformed. Mozzarella in Carrozza, Spaghetti Cetarese, Bollito Misto and Tiramisu are just a few of the treasures reworked following critical thought.

Obsessive about seeking out the true flavours of the Italian kitchen, Massimo Bottura reveals their elegance, simplicity and beauty through minimal gestures. Ristorante ltalia will not only use the very best imported Italian products but, in the pursuit of excellence, the kitchen will source many of its ingredients from Turkish lands and take advantage of Eataly's in-house dairy production. Members from Osteria Francescana's longterm team will head up Ristorante ltalia whilst Massimo Bottura will make regular appearances at the restaurant, which is only a two hour plane ride from home.

Located in the residential Besiktas neighbourhood, just up the hill from the Bosforus, the restaurant sits on the top floor of the immensely popular Eataly. At the centre of the light-filled dining room, over an oak floor is laid a striking Turkish silk carpet in modernist blocks of ruby red, burnt orange and saffron. The distinctive Italian design of both the main and private dinning rooms feature lighting by Davide Groppi, leather upholstered chairs by Poltrona Frau and lounge furniture from Bottega Veneta's exclusive home collection. To complete the Italian experience, an outdoor cocktail and gelato bar is found on the landscaped dining terrace with furniture and carpeting by designer Paola Lenti. Overlooking the Zorlu center gardens, the terrace looks back to the walk-in cellar and dining room, its walls adorned with a selection of contemporary art curated by Massimo Bottura.

Ristorante ltalia di Massimo Bottura EATALY Istanbul Zorlu Center Levaz1m Mahellesi Koru Sokak no.2 Besiktas 34340 Istanbul Turkey

Contact number and website to be confirmed

Ristorante ltalia can be accessed via a private lift from valet parking or directly through Eataly store. It will be open for lunch and dinner 6 days a week, and closed on Monday.

For more information on the opening of Ristorante ltalia di Massimo Bottura please contact; Sarah Canet or Alice Stanners E: sarah@spoon-pr.com or alice@spoon-pr.com T:+44 56 0368 7701