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Just three years after opening, Agli Amici Rovinj has been awarded – the first and only restaurant in Croatia – the second star in the 2024 Michelin Guide. The Scarellos are immediately satisfied: “We are really happy with this result, especially because it was achieved in a context in which we started from scratch, believing strongly every day in what we were doing and building a new way of doing catering, which sees a significant involvement of local producers and the resources of the territory. New styles have been created, mixing the experience of Udine with a different culture and the result is an Istrian fine dining that represents us”.
Michela and Emanuele Scarello’s Istrian adventure, which began in June 2021 and was immediately awarded the first star from the “red”, not only confirms itself as a destination in a region that increasingly looks to high-level international tourism, but becomes a beacon of it. To Rovigno, the Scarello brothers brought their restaurant philosophy, which, over the years, transformed the family business into what is today the Agli Amici 1887 restaurant in Godia (Udine), a two-starred restaurant where the chef’s elegant and sophisticated cuisine goes hand in hand with the careful attention paid to the guest. At the basis of this approach are the knowledge and valorisation of the territories, respect for the tradition in which they are rooted and daily experimentation, in addition to cooperation with one’s collaborators, great professionalism and maximum attention to detail, in the kitchen as in the room.
For Agli Amici Rovinj, chef Scarello has selected a series of small farmers, breeders and fishermen: artisans who guarantee the best of local production, also in terms of economic and environmental sustainability. Michela Scarello has reconstructed her idea of a dining room, putting hospitality and savoir faire at the center of everything. The person in charge of the Rovinj cuisine on a permanent basis is Simone De Lucca, under the supervision of Godia, Elia Calcinotto and Riccardo Celeghin, with a view to the teamwork that distinguishes the Scarellos’ approach. The room can count on a young and passionate team, as well as making use of the expertise of Kristijan Harjač, awarded as best sommelier in Croatia in 2023. Open from March to November, Agli Amici Rovinj was born thanks to a partnership with the Maistra Hospitality Group – a group strongly rooted in Croatian territory – and is located in the space between the Grand Park Hotel Rovinj and the Marina, which overlooks the sea with its spectacular terrace.
