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Event Description:
The Observatory Hotel will be transformed when internationally renowned chef, Renato Piccolotto visits the Galileo Restaurant from 13 - 18 February, promising to capture the magic of Venice with an exquisite seven course degustation menu each evening from just $195 per person.

For those seeking the ultimate Valentine's Day experience on 14 February 2012, along with Piccolotto's seven course degustation menu, diners will be treated to live Italian entertainment, a long stemmed rose and the opportunity to win two nights' accommodation at one of the world's most celebrated properties, The Hotel Cipriani, located in the heart of Venice.

The Observatory Hotel General Manager, Ralf Bruegger, said it was an incredible coup to welcome Piccolotto to Sydney with Orient Express, explaining this is an opportunity not to be missed.

"Renato is coming to The Observatory Hotel straight from our sister property in Venice, where he is the Executive Chef of Hotel Cipriani. He is celebrated for creating authentic Venetian dishes where the flavour of the ingredients is given pride of place and the result is cuisine that is recognised as totally unpretentious and honest, yet luxurious and constructed with passion and flair. This is what has made Renato famous all over the world."

The Globe Bar & Brassiere will also delight throughout the week, when it is guided under the expert leadership of Piccolotto, featuring items from the Cip's club, the Hotel Cipriani's informal dining experience in Venice.

Bruegger said 'diners who experience Piccolotto's cuisine will join the ranks of a long list of celebrities who have visited his Venetian restaurant. "Renato has cooked for an incredible audience, with visitors from all over the world, including the likes of George Clooney, Matt Damon, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Meryl Streep, Daniel Craig, Sir Elton John and Angelina Jolie, to name just a few'.

"This will be one exceptional week, where Sydney locals and food lovers will be offered an incredible opportunity for diners to experience the magic of Venice and to encounter one of the world's greatest chefs," Bruegger said. Piccolotto started his career as a "commis de cuisine" at the Villa Cipriani in Asolo, where he was trained by the founder of Harry's Bar, Giuseppe Cipriani, before he moved to The Hotel Cipriani in Venice. Here, he continued to uphold the great cooking traditions of his mentor, and was promoted to Executive Chef.