RIVA CUCINA ADDS FRESH ITALIAN FLAVOR TO WEST BERKELEY

New Restaurant of Rising Star Chef Massimiliano Boldrini To Showcase
Authentic Northern Italian Cuisine

BERKELEY, Calif. – April 27, 2007 – The husband and wife team of Massimiliano (Massi) and Jennifer Boldrini have announced the opening of their new Berkeley restaurant, Riva Cucina. Located in the burgeoning community of West Berkeley and named for the place where land and water meet (riva in Italian), Riva Cucina will blend fresh local and organic foods with authentic Italian imports from the chef’s native Emilia-Romagna region.

Chef Massi Boldrini is already well-known throughout Northern California for his innovative approach to Italian cuisine. Born into a family of chefs and raised in Ferrara, Italy, Massi first came to the U.S. in 1999 to train under Gino Angelini, a James Beard Foundation best chef nominee, at Vincenti Restaurant in Los Angeles. Most recently, Massi has brought his northern Italian cuisine to various Napa Valley wineries such as Signorello Vineyards, Castello di Amorosa and V. Sattui, offering catering services, menu development, kitchen management and culinary classes. A sampling of Massi’s signature recipes are featured on the Snake River Farms’ Web site (www.snakeriverfarms.com).

“With Riva Cucina, we wanted to create a place for people to enjoy great food and great company. Our focus will be on bringing out the flavors and textures of the ingredients and highlighting their unique attributes in a healthy way,” said Massi Boldrini. “We are extremely excited to share our passion and the foods we love with our neighbors in West Berkeley.”

The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and early dinner Monday through Friday, and patrons can choose to eat in or take their freshly prepared meals with them. Meals can be enjoyed inside or on the piazza, where Riva Cucina plans to host cooking demonstrations, wine-tastings and sagre, Italian festivals celebrating pleasures like seafood, cheese, wine, desserts and art. Come summer, Riva Cucina will also have a stand at the Berkeley Farmer’s Market, where folks can enjoy meals on the spot or take them home.

Additionally, Massi and Jen have built a garden for the children at Aquatic Park School, which is located across the piazza from Riva Cucina. They’ve planted herbs with the children and learn together about growing and eating fresh, healthy foods.

“One thing I love about Italian culture is its sense of community. Partnering with Aquatic Park School for our first community activity couldn’t have been a better fit, as they also get their inspiration from Emilia-Romagna! The school uses teaching methods modeled after the preschool system found in Reggio Emilia (a city 45 minutes from Ferrara), which recognizes learning as a community experience that parents, teachers, children and the larger community can explore together,” said Jen Boldrini. “Our garden project not only provides an opportunity for the children to learn about gardening and nutrition, but also for Massi and I to learn about this amazing preschool system close to Massi’s hometown.”

About Riva Cucina
Located at 800 Heinz Avenue in West Berkeley, Riva Cucina serves Emilia-Romagna inspired Italian cuisine. Owned and operated by Chef Massi Boldrini and Jen Boldrini, general manager, Riva Cucina serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, visit http://www.rivacucina.com/.