Cristiana Romito is the link between the kitchen, dining room, and hospitality at "Reale," a Three MICHELIN-Starred restaurant in Casadonna, Abruzzo, which she runs alongside her brother Niko. Awarded "Best Maître" by the Identità Golose guide in 2012 and "Best Dining Room Director" for Les Grandes Tables Du Monde in 2019, self-taught Cristiana excels in her role as the general manager of the family's renowned restaurant.
Cristiana Romito was born in August 1972 in Pescara. Two years later, she became the older sister with the birth of her younger brother and future colleague, Niko. From Abruzzo, the whole family moved to Rome, where Cristiana, who dreamed of being a flight attendant as a child and of working in Brussels for the European Community as a young woman, studied German and French at the School of Interpreters and Translators. However, the Romito family continued to spend their weekends in Rivisondoli, where her father had transformed the family pastry shop into the restaurant "Reale."
In 2000, after a long battle with illness, Cristiana and Niko's father passed away. The two siblings decided to return to the Abruzzo hills and carry on the legacy he left behind. Despite their lack of experience in the culinary and hospitality industry, the siblings embraced the challenge. In 2007, just seven years after opening, the restaurant earned its first MICHELIN Star, followed by a second in 2009.
In 2011, the restaurant found a new home in the former Casadonna monastery, where an ambitious project took shape, including a prestigious hotel and the Niko Romito Academy, providing advanced training and professional specialization in culinary arts. The pinnacle came in 2014 when "Reale" was awarded its third MICHELIN Star, acknowledging the excellence and contribution of the two siblings to haute cuisine.
The duo also earned recognition individually: Cristiana's dedication and commitment were acknowledged with the "Best Maître" award from Le Marchesine in the Identità Golose guide of 2012.
Continuing to grow, the format "Spazio" was born in 2013, followed by "Bomba" in 2015. In 2017, a collaboration with Bulgari led Niko and Cristiana to create exclusive menus for luxurious hotels around the world. In 2018, another ambitious project was realized: "ALT," the "taste sRtation" along the SS17 highway connecting the Abruzzo and Molise regions.
Meanwhile, Cristiana assumed the role of general manager at the Casadonna restaurant, becoming the link between the kitchen, dining room, and hospitality. This complex responsibility involves forming an eclectic team, including industry experts and young talents from the Academy.
In 2018, Cristiana received the Cantine Ferrari "Hospitality of the Dining Room" award, celebrating her exceptional service. The following year, she was honored with the Mauviel 1830 award as the "Best Dining Room Director," an international distinction conferred by the association Les Grandes Tables Du Monde.
In 2023, besides confirming its Three Forks rating, "Reale" also won the Gambero Rosso award for the best vegetarian proposal. Cristiana, in her role as the establishment's manager, stated, "Being the first Italian restaurant fills us with pride, confirming the strength of our team and our choices, encouraging us to plan and further develop our work."
Cover Photo: @AndreaStraccini
