I still remember the day I was sitting in a car parked outside of Villa Crespi. It was in the middle of the nineties, and I was with my father and one of his friends. I remember him recommending my father a young Neapolitan chef for some months’ work in our hotel. Obviously, the young Chef was Antonino, but little did I know that that conversation would change my life forever. 

23 years later, I still remember the moment Antonino entered the family hotel to await his interview. He was sitting in the hall.. this is incredible, really! I mean, through the years, you see many people walking in and out to attend their interviews. But his interview…somehow I felt there was something special about this one. I felt a bond with him.

I think it’s a significant factor that I was struck by his charisma since the very first day. So far, Antonino’s charisma remains his distinctive mark. We started working long hours together.  So, our relationship slowly evolved and became a true love story.