It was a star-filled night in Italy on Tuesday as the Michelin Guide announced its latest ratings of Italian restaurants during a ceremony in Modena. Most notably, one spot was added to the guide’s list of three-starred restaurants: Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli in Verona, under the helm of the chef Giancarlo Perbellini.
Perbellini “orchestrates a concerto of sublime flavours and impeccable techniques, enriched by a sense of hospitality that promises gourmets an experience to remember,” the guide said in its announcement. “A native of the region himself, Perbellini is descended from a family of pastry chefs and has certainly mastered the craft: sesame wafers with sea bass tartar and liquorice is just one of his stunning creations. The warmth of the whole team and the spectacular dining room will only enhance your unique experience.”
While Perbellini and his team may be celebrating the most, another 35 restaurants were graced with their first star or an upgrade to two stars. In the latter category, Villa Elena in Bergamo and Campo del Drago in Montalcino were bumped up from one star to two. The former, with the chef Marco Galtarossa in charge, was honoured by the Michelin Guide for dishes such as grilled duck in ravioli with celery and crespelle stuffed with duck thighs. Campo del Drago, led by the chef Matteo Temperini, was lauded for its personal cuisine, expressed in plates like gnocchi with chanterelles and porcini mushrooms.
Moving down the list, a whopping 33 restaurants received one Michelin star this year. Many of those are backed by well-known chefs like Massimo Bottura and Antonino Cannavacciuolo. Those big names, though, have put younger chefs in charge of their kitchens: Bottura has installed Jessica Rosval at Al Gatto Verde in Modena, while Cannavacciuolo has entrusted Le Cattedrali in Asti to Gianluca Renzi.
This year, Lombardy became the Italian region with the most new entries, and its impressive 61 starred restaurants is the most across the country. Campania follows with 50 stars, then Tuscany with 44, Piedmont with 35, and Veneto with 34. In total, Italy boasts an eye-popping 393 Michelin stars. That sterling result only seems fitting for a country whose culinary reputation is one of the strongest in the world.
Photography: Michelin Guide
