Alessandro Rapisarda is the Italian Finalist

Alessandro Rapisarda from restaurant Ristorante Café Opera in Recanati, Italy, has been announced as the winner of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Italian regional final.

With his winning signature dish entitled Risotto alla "Marinara" (Risotto with seafood), Rapisarda impressed the local jury of Italian professional chefs: Andrea Berton, Cristina Bowerman, Alessandro Negrini, Davide Oldani, Fabio Pisani and Mauro Uliass. Bowerman described the signature dish as incredibly interesting, while Uliassi said “this beautiful dish tastes like a Michelin starred one”.

Chef Rapisarda will now have the opportunity to compete in the global final under the guidance of mentor Davide Oldani that will support him until October, with the chance of winning the prestigious title of S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2016.

Chef Oldani said about this year’s competition: “The dishes are incredibly tasty, I’m really glad about it. The young chefs are also animated by a very strong will: I must confess that it has been very difficult for us to pick a winner”.