Muah...West Hollywood Blows Kiss to New Al Bacio Ristorante

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - Nov. 25, 2013 - PRLog -- West Hollywood is expected to greet its newest restaurant with a big kiss, as Al Bacio Ristorante becomes the latest restaurant to mark its debut in LA County on Saturday, December 7. Situated at the site formerly occupied by Osteria Drago (8741 West Sunset Blvd), Al Bacio means “kiss of approval” as in the gesture Italians commonly make to indicate approval of a delicious dish.

According to one of the owners, Roberto Saracino, the menu will feature authentic Italian cuisine made from top-of-the-line ingredients (think Acquerello rice, Mulino Sobrino flour, Mozzarella di Bufala, fresh truffles, etc.). All of the dishes are made from scratch and right on the premises including its pastas and sorbets.

The restaurant is the culmination of a lifelong passion of Saracino, who owns his own high-end Italian foods import business, Liaison West in Huntington Beach. The company supplies premium-grade imported food products and ingredients for a number of top restaurants in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Prior to opening the company in 1998, he enjoyed a long career in the restaurant business having held management positions at L’Opera in Long Beach, Armani Café in Boston and others. The other partners include long-time collaborators Gennaro Pirozzi, owner of Casearia Casabianca, the company which hand makes the Mozzarella di Bufala, and Antonio Galdiero.

Serving as executive chef of Al Bacio is Venice, Italy native Christian Simionato, who began his career as Chef de Partie at the Hotel Casale in Aosta, Italy and later held the same position at the acclaimed Piccolo Lago. Next, he relocated to London and honed his talents at the renowned Italian bakery, Princi, and later at L’Anima under Chef Francesco Mazzei. In 2010, he was approached by Chef Marco Sacco (Piccolo Lago) and Chef Andera Tranchero to open the River Club Restaurant in Beijing, whose signature menu bridging Asian and Italian cultures earned the restaurant critical acclaim. He later came to the United States at the invitation of renowned chef Jean Pierre Dubray to serve as sous chef at Andrea, the five star dining establishment at The Resort at Pelican Hill, one of the nation’s finest luxury resorts.

“I’m thrilled to fulfill my dream of owning my own restaurant as fine food has always been a passion of mine. My partners and I are lucky to have found a top talent to lead our team, Chef Christian Simionato,” said Saracino. “We share the same philosophy of not cutting corners, making everything from scratch and using only top notch food products and ingredients, with the goal of exceeding the expectations of our guests.”

Added Simionato, who is also a partner in the new restaurant, “I appreciate Mr. Saracino’s faith in me and his encouragement to express my creativity and passion in the kitchen.”

The interior of the 75-seat restaurant carries a sleek Hollywood Regency design with contemporary touches and colorful artwork. Guests enter through a covered patio overlooking bustling Sunset Boulevard and walk into the bar with its Carrara marble top and barstool seating facing selections from Al Bacio’s extensive collection of Italian and California wines. The dining room offers upholstered banquettes as well as tables with bistro seating. A private dining room that seats 40 is situated on the opposite side of the eatery.

Al Bacio is open daily for dinner except Sundays with lunch served Wednesdays – Fridays beginning in 2014. Happy hour is from 5 – 7 p.m. weekdays. Address is 8741 West Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood; (310) 657-1182.