Robust flavors, bold wines and the freshest ingredients all painted with broad, colorful strokes in the Italian tradition help form the new menu at one of downtown LA's favorite Italian restaurants, Cardini Ristorante.  Located on the lobby level of the Wilshire Grand Los Angeles hotel, Cardini recently announced the addition of a new chef, Antonio Chavez. 

The downtown Los Angeles restaurant, with both indoor and outdoor dining, acquires its new chef from Spectrum Foods, operating restaurants in San Francisco, San Diego, La Jolla and Los Angeles.  Mr. Chavez has been the Executive Chef for Harry’s Bar and Grill for the past 15 years in both Century City and at Harry’s Bar in La Jolla since it’s opening in 2001.  Most recently, he also was the Executive chef for Prego in Beverly Hills as well.  His culinary expertise dates back to San Francisco where he was Executive Chef of Caio Restaurant, voted the #1 Italian restaurant in the bay area several years running during his tenure.   

Chef Antonio has already made major changes in the new traditional and authentic Italian fare offered by Cardini.  Antonio says, “We are pleased to provide an exciting gastronomical experience at Cardini.  We start with exceptional appetizers in the Italian style.  The Cardini antipasto will feature Italian charcuterie, parma prosciutto, the freshest sea foods as well as imported chesses from Italy.  I have created many new dishes here at Cardini.  I have an exceptional sea food platter I call Mista di Pesce.  For a lighter dish, I have a new salmon salad made with hand-pounded salmon, lightly grilled and served with an extra virgin olive oil.  I begin each day making all my pastas and ravioli by hand.”  Antonio adds his own favorite dishes to the new menu with carpaccio beef, veal Bolognese and for dessert, homemade tiramisu.