Rosewood Abu Dhabi kicks off the new year with an ambitious culinary collaboration, welcoming Matteo Temperini, the two-Michelin-starred chef behind Campo del Drago at Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, for a two-day gastronomic residency on 23 and 24 January. The exchange sees Chef Temperini cooking alongside Liborio Colonna, Executive Chef at Rosewood Abu Dhabi, bringing together two kitchens shaped by a shared respect for craft, provenance, and a strong sense of place.
At the heart of the collaboration is a mutual belief in ingredient-led cooking and refined simplicity. Chef Temperini’s cuisine is inseparable from the Tuscan landscape that surrounds Castiglion del Bosco, where his menus are guided by seasonality, tradition, and close relationships with local producers. Much of what appears on the plate is drawn directly from the estate’s organic garden, a philosophy that has helped elevate Campo del Drago to two Michelin stars and secure its place among Italy’s most respected dining destinations.
In Abu Dhabi, he joins Chef Colonna, whose culinary vision continues to shape the hotel’s dining concepts through a balance of precision, narrative, and emotional resonance—translating global influences into experiences that feel grounded, considered, and authentic.
The collaboration unfolds across two distinct settings. On Friday, 23 January, guests are invited to La Cava for an intimate evening centred on Castiglion del Bosco wines, paired with a curated selection of canapés created jointly by both kitchens. Set within the atmospheric cellar, the experience highlights the natural conversation between food, wine, and terroir. The menu includes Gillardeau oysters, king crab croquettes, coppa with foie gras toast, and traditional Tuscan cantucci almond biscuits—an elegant interplay of Italian heritage and contemporary technique. The evening runs from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM and is priced at AED 385 per person.
On Saturday, 24 January, the focus shifts to Rosewood Terrace for a four-hands dinner that reinterprets Italian culinary tradition through a modern lens. Guests will enjoy an exclusive six-course menu created for the occasion, featuring dishes such as Gambero Rosso with caviar, Sorrento lemon, Carnaroli risotto with ‘Dolce Forte’ duck, and rabbit and Swiss chard agnolotti finished with black truffle. A refined turbot course showcases seasonal produce, before the evening concludes with green apple and dill mousse with ginger and lime, followed by an espresso dessert. The dinner takes place from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM and is priced at AED 750 per person, with an optional wine pairing available at AED 450 per person.
“These shared moments are an opportunity to slow down and exchange ideas,” says Chef Colonna. “Cooking alongside another chef allows you to see familiar ingredients through a different lens, while staying true to the values that define your own kitchen. This experience is about balance, respect for product, and creating something meaningful for our guests.”
Chef Temperini adds: “Bringing the spirit of Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco to Rosewood Abu Dhabi is about sharing our approach to cooking through flavour and simplicity. This experience allows us to translate the identity of our kitchen into a new setting, while learning from one another and creating a dining experience that feels honest and considered.”
Together, the two evenings offer a nuanced exploration of food and wine—one shaped by craftsmanship, dialogue, and a shared commitment to thoughtful hospitality. Two destinations, two perspectives, and one culinary conversation come into focus through an experience defined by intimacy, precision, and intent.
To find out more and book, visit the links below:
Rosewood Abu Dhabi
Zayed the First Street
Al Maryah Island
MI1 – Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
Web: rosewoodhotels.com/abu-dhabi
Tel: +971 2 813 5550
Email: abudhabi@rosewoodhotels.com
Instagram: @rosewoodabudhabi