Bon appétit!

VIE: Italy is world-renowned as one of the best destinations for food and wine. What, in your opinion, makes Italian cuisine so special?

ER: Simplicity—it’s the care for each flavor, individually and as a whole. Our daily lives are complicated, and food connects us to our past, present, and future. Italian cuisine is masterful at doing so.

VIE: What’s your favorite meal to make at home?

ER: I love to make breakfast, and it is the meal I am most consistently around for. It is important to me that we get to start our day as a family, and no matter how late I worked the night before, I make it a point to get up and make breakfast. I want my kids always to remember breakfast with Dad.

VIE: Tell us a little about Ravello’s involvement with area nonprofits and how you aim to give back to the community.

ER: Besides supporting and participating in several local nonprofit and charity events and teaching classes at Auburn University’s Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management, we find it rewarding to work with the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association and their Pro-Start program. We provide instruction and mentorship and serve as judges in this training program that helps our state develop talent and show young people there are rewarding careers available in hospitality.

VIE: Are there any projects or events coming up for you and Ravello this year that you’d like to share?

ER: Soon, we’ll welcome Chef Gianluca Tolla to our kitchen at Ravello as part of our culinary exchange program with Montgomery’s sister city of Pietrasanta, Italy. Chef “Luca” will bring his own authentic touch to the menu, and our team will learn from him while we share our knowledge of local produce and ingredients. This will enhance the experience at Ravello and continue pushing the boundaries of the local palate.

I encourage readers always to explore local restaurants in their home city or wherever they travel; there is so much opportunity to uplift small businesses and become a part of their family. We love our regulars and visitors alike. Our doors are always open!

Visit RavelloMGM.com to learn more, check out the menu, make a reservation, or inquire about hosting your special event at the historic City Fed building in downtown Montgomery.