Sicily's La Plage Resort Unveils New Culinary Concept

As the newest member of Italy's Ragosta Hotels Collection, the luxury resort unveils a modern culinary concept combining its local gastronomic heritage with international appeal, overseen by Executive Chef Massimo Falsini.

Old world Italian meets hip Asian flair at La Plage Resort's Fusion Restaurant, set to open June 2009. With a unique menu combining the flavor and richness of the Sicilian landscape blended perfectly with Asian culinary techniques, Fusion's Executive Chef Massimo Falsini has created international selections focused on flavor, elegance, simplicity and balance. With the chef’s philosophy of "Zen Flavor Balancing," which delicately combines ingredients on the palate for one complete taste, the cuisine is both timeless and cutting edge, bringing a new style to causal Italian dining, as announced by Gianluca Giglio, Ragosta Hotels Collection Group General Manager.

Featuring a diverse menu offering seafood, pasta, meat and vegetarian options, each dish successfully combines local Sicilian ingredients such as blood oranges, sea bass and pecorino cheese with classic Asian influences such as ginger, tempura and wasabi. All dishes are presented in a chic and modern style. Signature selections include Hand Cut Lasagna with turbot and ginger, Snapper Carpaccio with miso vinaigrette and Szechwan Pepper Glazed Suckling Pig Filet with apple chutney.

"Fusion's cuisine will be well thought out, while maintaining passion and artistic creation," said Massimo Falsini, Executive Chef. “Using proper technique coupled with both classic and modern combinations, we will ensure our dishes are balanced yet flavorful. By paying attention to the evolution of each ingredient throughout the cooking process, Fusion will develop a comprehensive menu featuring an unparalleled end product."

Overlooking the spectacular Isola Bella nature reserve, La Plage Resort's Fusion Restaurant offers a strikingly modern atmosphere with sleek Asian accents and subtle local touches. Its exemplary service and refined sense of elegance and taste allow guests to enjoy a balanced and relaxed dining experience. All aspects of the La Plage Resort's Food & Beverage program, including Fusion Restaurant, will be overseen by Executive Chef Massimo Falsini. With extensive training throughout Italy and the U.S., Chef Falsini has served as Sous Chef, Executive Chef and Chef de Cuisine at some of the leading restaurants and hotels throughout the U.S., Italy and United Arab Emirates. Most recently, he served as the Executive Sous Chef at the Hilton Abu Dhabi Hotel, Resort & Spa, where he assisted in overseeing operations for all on-site food & beverage operations for facilities, generating approximately $55 million annually.

Situated in Taormina Isola Bella, a small island near Taormina, Sicily also known as "The Pearl of the Ionian Sea," La Plage Resort will open as a five-star property, featuring 61 guestrooms and suites, including sea view villas, deluxe rooms and luxury suites. The island is a nature reserve and protected environment for local fauna and flora.

In addition to stylish and innovative accommodations, the resort offers a full-service restaurant, lounge, restaurant and a bar on the beach that features culinary options ranging from Mediterranean, Fusion and Italian. A banquet room with spectacular ocean views will host social and corporate events. The resort will also feature Ragosta Hotels Collection's signature spa line, Expure SPA, which combines indigenous essences and plant extracts in its therapies and treatments, and is exclusive to the Ragosta Hotels Collection. Fitness facilities along with water sports and family programs will be offered as well.

More importantly, the resort will be known for the various Al Fresco public areas such as fragrant gardens and solariums, gathering spaces for guests to relax and unwind. But perhaps the most exciting facility will be the exclusive Marine and Beach Club, accessible only to guests and housing an extensive menu of water sports and activities such as boating.

As a member of the Ragosta Hotels Collection, La Plage Resort provides its guests with the unique Define Your Lifestyle experience that provides customized hospitality offerings mirroring the daily lifestyles of the discerning traveler. Define Your Lifestyle was created to address the growing travel trend of up-market travelers seeking an extraordinary hospitality experience that incorporates elements of their own lifestyles. This ideal forms the cornerstone of the company's Define Your Lifestyle brand-wide concept, easily identifiable throughout Ragosta Hotels Collection by signature amenities, services, architecture and design, location and culinary offerings

Ragosta Hotels Collection, a unique compilation of luxury hotels is situated in some of Italy's most idyllic locations. The Ragosta Hotels Collection includes the renown Hotel Raito in Vietri sul Mare, Relais Paradiso Hotel on the Amalfi Coast, La Plage Resort set to open in June 2009 in Taormina, Sicily, and the Rome luxury boutique hotel, Palazzo Montemartini, slated to open early 2010.