MARCO ISLAND, Fla. (PRWEB) – Sale e Pepe, the elegant Italian restaurant overlooking the Gulf of Mexico within the award-winning Marco Beach Ocean Resort, has named Antonio Minichiello as executive chef.
Raised in the small, southern Italian town of Avellino, Minichiello’s love for cooking began at an early age alongside his mother and grandmother, eventually leading him to enter culinary school at age 15. After graduation, he spent many years honing his skills at acclaimed restaurants throughout Europe and the United States, including the Four Seasons in London and the two-Michelin starred Four Seasons in Prague. Most recently, he served as executive chef at Veranda Restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas.
Throughout his career, Minichiello has earned a reputation for creating authentic and luxurious cuisine that reflects the rich culinary tradition of his Italian homeland, and he will now bring his extensive experience, talent and inspiration to lead the culinary team at Sale e Pepe. Since his arrival in the fall, Chef Minichiello has worked to create a menu that is influenced by old-world tradition, yet reflects a personal style that he describes as authentic Italian with a modern twist.
At Sale e Pepe, Minichiello looks forward to continuing to incorporate his creativity and passion for Italian cuisine to create unique and memorable experiences for guests by leading them on a nostalgia-filled journey of his homeland. “It’s like a trip that goes to Sicily, all the way through the south and stops in Rome, and up to Tuscany and finishes up in Milan,” Minichiello said.
Chef Minichiello has recently introduced two six-course tasting menus, providing diners with the opportunity to sample a broad range of his culinary repertoire. Both the Avellino and the Campania menus pay homage to Minichiello’s Italian roots and showcase his extensive culinary talent and experience. Additionally, each tasting menu offers guests an optional wine pairing from Sale e Pepe’s award-winning 400+ label collection, recognized by Wine Spectator with its Best of Award of Excellence for 12 consecutive years.
Located within the award-winning Marco Beach Ocean Resort, Sale e Pepe offers authentic, elegant Italian cuisine overlooking the Gulf of Mexico with alfresco dining on The Terrace, or elegant dining indoors, surrounded by magnificent Renaissance-inspired art and architecture. Complemented by South Florida’s fresh produce and seafood, the menu presents a dining experience that embraces the culinary traditions of southern Italy in a unique and progressive style, from preparation to presentation.
Sale e Pepe has been a AAA Four Diamond award-winning restaurant each year since 2005. The restaurant was ranked No. 2 among Marco Island’s top restaurants on USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, named one of the 100 Best Alfresco Dining Restaurants in America for 2017 by OpenTable, and also is the only Marco Island restaurant to receive the prestigious Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine – an honor it has earned for 12 consecutive years.
Reservations are preferred at Sale e Pepe and can be made by calling 239-393-1600 or visiting sale-e-pepe.com.
Known for its intimate environment and personalized service, Marco Beach Ocean Resort is a 103 room, all-suite beachfront boutique resort. The suites feature a kitchenette, spacious living room and private balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico or lush garden terraces. The resort features a variety of dining options, including beachfront casual; a spa and fitness center; swimming pool; rooftop garden; and direct access to four miles of the island’s famed sugar-sand beaches. The resort’s location and amenities make it the perfect choice for vacations, destination weddings and executive business meetings.
Overlooking the sparkling blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Marco Beach Ocean Resort is a designated AAA Four Diamond resort for 15 consecutive years and was ranked No. 16 on the Travel + Leisure 2013 World’s Best Awards List of Top Resorts in the continental U.S. In 2015, the resort was recognized by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top 25 resorts in Florida’s Gulf of Mexico and Central regions; was named among the top 400 hotels worldwide by Expedia+ members; and was inducted into the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame.
Developed by the Gulf Bay® Group of Companies, Marco Beach Ocean Resort is located at 480 South Collier Blvd. on Marco Island. Shopping, entertainment and dining are all within walking distance; golf, boating, fishing, kayaking and nature tours are nearby. For additional information or to make reservations, call 239-393-1400 or toll-free at 800-715-8517, or visit marcoresort.com. Aubrey J. Ferrao is President of Gulf Bay Group of Companies.
