Fantastic Firsts, Chef Salvatore Bianco, Il Comandante Ristorante (Na)

At Festa a Vico, I also ran into the Michelin starred chef Salvatore Bianco serving up his chicken soup. All chicken, totally chicken featuring a kefir hemp ravioli and a parmigiano cheese chip. Delicate and delightful served just before a summer sunset.

Fantastic.

Sweet Surprises in a Dolce Dessert by Chef Salvatore Bianco

Tuesday night is not usually my night to go out.  But this evening was different...designed to be a little special.  An evening of pizza and champagne - a four hands dinner put on by pizza maker and host Salvatore Salvo, Pizzeria Salvo and Michelin star chef Salvatore Bianco, Il Comandante Ristorante...

Salvo and Bianco

Salvatore and Salvatore for gli amici/friends...

And after a series of 5 pizzas and paired perfectly with 5 different champagnes chosen by sommelier Pasquale Brillante ...

I assumed the evening as over.  It was late, it was a school night, and I must admit, was a little sleepy thinking about the forty-five minute drive home. I did have one question at the back of my mind.  How were they going to close the evening? Maybe featuring  Salvo's fried zeppole?  I really wasn't sure.  I was sure of one thing, however.  That Chef Bianco was nowhere to be seen.  I mean, he wasn't strolling around the dining room speaking about the evening's creations.  That was  Salvo's job so to speak.  So Bianco???
I soon found out.  Bianco decided to surprise us all as we soon learned while sommelier Brillante spoke about a particular wine close to my heart.  A dessert  wine made with Aglianico grapes (noble rot) by Mastroberardino - vintage 2010.

My mind shot back instantly to my first vineyard visit to Montemarano in the hills of Avellino.  Then out came the dolce.  Simple spectacular  and meticulous...Like the chef himself.

He chose chocolate...white chocolate.  Strawberries ('tis the season), red wine, lime and puffed kamut.  A single flower set on top.

A sweet surprise...
Grazie, Chef!!!

Sandwich in the Sky - Beluga Skybar & Restaurant, Romeo Hotel (Na)

It was almost 5 pm when I stepped off the elevator and entered into the Beluga Skybar and Restaurant located on the 9th floor of the 5 star luxury Romeo Hotel.  There I was greeted by a silky sleek waterfall and a jaw dropping view of the port of Naples.  After walking around and  around enjoying the view, a glance at the pool, the Captain's bridge, and the fabulous knick knacks that are placed throughout, I chose my seat and scanned the menu for something to eat.
At first glance, the snack menu seemed familiar.  Potato salad, hamburgers, fruit salad, etc.  Similar to hotel bars all around the world.  But then...then I wasn't just in any hotel bar. The snacks featured on the menu were prepared by the same kitchen staff that ran the hotel's Michelin star restaurant Il Comandante located one floor above.

In fact, it was Chef Salvatore Bianco himself who sat down with me and explained the philosophy of Beluga's Bar & Snack concept.  From 2:30 pm until 8 pm daily guests (and visitors like me) could enjoy a drink from the cocktail menu and a little snack.  And by snack, that could be anything from simple to stellar.  From your basic nuts and taralli to elaborate antipasti from Il Comandante's menu. Then the chef disappeared for a few moments and came back with my Thursday late lunch - a club sandwich. Probably the most club that I have ever seen.

 Before I dove in, I took a long look at the particulars, the details, dettagli.  The perfectly toasted bread, sliced into two right triangles.  Bread, the chef shared, that they had baked themselves.  Layers of classic club fillings included freshly sliced tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, pancetta bacon, chicken breast, and mayonnaise.

And the potato chips on the side?  Not bag chips, but chips that they had prepared themselves, of course.  All paired with a glass of Falanghina del Sannio.  The perfect Thursday late lunch.  One that I told Chef Bianco that I could enjoy everyday!

Beluga Skybar & Restaurant

Breakfast: from Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 10:30 am.
Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 am to 11:00 am.
Bar & Lunch: from 12:30 pm to 02:30 pm
Bar & Snack: from 02:30 pm to 08:00 pm