Davide Ciavattella was born in Pescara, situated on the Adriatic Sea in Abruzzo, central Italy. As chef de cuisine at Toronto’s Michelin-starred Don Alfonso 1890 in the Westin Harbour Castle hotel, Chef Davide’s culinary journey has included extensive travels throughout Italy, where he fully immersed himself in the country’s rich gastronomic culture. There he honed his culinary skills by working at prestigious Michelin-starred establishments and under the mentorship of award-winning chefs, in the pursuit of haute cuisine.
Chef’s culinary vision is profoundly influenced by the flavors of both the island of Capri and the Amalfi coast, highlighting strong culinary traditions liked to the terroir of southern Italy. There, Chef Davide had the privilege of studying under the award-winning chef Ernesto Iaccarino at Don Alfonso 1890, the two-starred Michelin restaurant based in Sorrento where he focused on innovative techniques while respecting the local food culture and the old traditions of the region. After mentorship under Chef Ernesto at the flagship Don Alfonso, Chef Davide was handpicked with chef Daniele Corona to move to Toronto to join the team at the Liberty Entertainment Group, with a mission to carry forward the legacy of Don Alfonso 1890 and its Italian culinary traditions, techniques and recipes, and expand and elevate the culinary offerings of the renowned establishment in Canada and on the international stage. Chef Davide brings the current cooking techniques and flavours developed at the flagship in Italy and adds a fresh approach to Ernesto Iaccarino’s signature dishes. Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto has since been recognized with the most prestigious international accolades, including the Michelin Guide, Tre Forchette Best New Restaurant by Gambero Rosso, Best Italian restaurant by Top50 Italy, La Liste, Wine Spectator’s Best of Excellence Award, and more.
Prior, Chef Davide worked in the kitchen of L’Olivo, the renowned, two Michelin-starred restaurant on Capri studying under chef Andrea Migliaccio; he then worked under chef Salvatore Elefante at Ristorante Capri, an esteemed one Michelin-starred fine dining establishment in Zermatt, Switzerland as well as at the famed Michelin-starred Terme di Saturnia -- the distinguished destination spa and golf resort in Tuscany.