Fans of downtown St. Pete’s Il Ritorno may now discover a fresh dining experience each time they stop in. Chef and co-owner David Benstock calls the rustic Italian restaurant’s newest offering his “Confidential” Chef’s Special.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been taught to execute dishes a certain way, following a specific recipe,” Benstock said in a statement. “The ‘Confidential’ is a way for me to express my creative freedom, through the creation of entirely new and unique dishes for our guests.”
Priced at $65, the special highlights five courses that aren’t offered on Il Ritorno’s menu, and the items, which change weekly and won’t be repeated, remain a secret to patrons who order them. An extra $35 secures the meal’s complementary wine pairings.
Live scallops, local duck eggs, truffles imported from Umbria, Italy, and sea urchin are among the ingredients Benstock has unveiled.
This article appears in Aug 13-19, 2015.