Antonello Colonna's career is filled with honors, awards, and professional milestones: a curriculum vitae almost too rich to fit in this biography. Now at the helm of several restaurants, including the MICHELIN-Starred “Antonello Colonna Labico” in the Vallefredda Resort & Spa.
Born in Rome in 1956, Antonello grew up in the vibrant atmosphere of the city with a deep passion for cooking. In 1985, he took over the family inn, founded by his great-grandfather in 1874, in Labico, renaming it "Trattoria Andrea Colonna." At the entrance of the restaurant stood a red door, destined to become the symbol of the chef. The restaurant's new culinary philosophy aimed to preserve traditional flavors while reinterpreting them to satisfy modern and sophisticated palates. The restaurant quickly became a destination for food enthusiasts, and in 2004, the "Ristoranti d'Italia" guide by Gambero Rosso awarded it a score of 90/100 and the Third Fork.
In 1987, Colonna opened a restaurant in New York specializing in Jewish-Roman cuisine, which was named "Albero d'Oro" and is now known as "Vabene." Starting in 1986, he began organizing dinners and events in the USA and Italy for various associations and distinguished individuals. These included lectures on modern Roman cuisine and events such as the "Columbus Day," the "New York Marathon," "Time of Italy" by the Culinary Institute of America, the International Gas Congress for SNAM, and his role as supervisor of Casa Italia for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He also handled meal preparations for Palazzo Chigi and served as the official chef for the Prime Minister's Office.
Antonello provided consulting services for the "paper moon" group in New York and various hotel chains. He also was a spokesperson for various companies, including Cathay Pacific Airlines, Divella, La Molisana, De'Longhi, Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano and Alba White Truffle. In 1997, ENIT named him the "Ambassador of Italian Cuisine in the World."
In 2007, Antonello accepted the management of the rooftop at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, where the red door was relocated to one of the most enchanting views of the capital, inaugurating "Open Colonna" and embarking on an extraordinary culinary and hospitality adventure guided by the chef's infinite passion and revolutionary vision of hospitality. "Open" became the leading cultural and gastronomic center, the premier destination for high-class dining, a gourmet maison, and a space for contemporary events in an 18th-century setting.
In the spring of 2012, "Antonello Colonna Resort & Spa" was born, a charming place nestled in the Labico Natural Park. The property consists of twelve exclusive suites with garden orchards, a gourmet restaurant curated by Antonello, awarded a MICHELIN Star, thermal pools, and a wellness center. The estate also houses an agricultural, zootechnical, and dairy farm. In May 2015, the red door became an essential element of the new Colonna brand, symbolizing a constantly evolving world where roots, art, culture, good cuisine, experimentation, and hospitality merged into a single experience. In 2016, in collaboration with Chef Express, he launched "Antonello Colonna Open Bistrò" at Fiumicino Airport, offering buffet service.
In October 2019, Colonna opened "La Porta Rossa" in Milan merging food and art, expanding the presence of the chef who also provides catering services. Between 2020 and 2023, Antonello further expanded his entrepreneurial initiatives: he inaugurated "Open Colonna Bistrò" inside Rome's Termini Station, offering a wide selection of traditional Roman dishes along with innovative offerings. Later, he opened "Gold Open Bistrò" inside the Rome Olympic Stadium, a modern and refined design space. Antonello is also an author and philanthropist.
