Boutique and design hotel with Michelin star restaurant

This is the secret behind our cuisine. Each dish is carefully studied and prepared to tell a story of Sicily and its history, traditions, innovation, poetry and humanity, through a rigorous selection in the ingredients, and the deep connection with this land on the slopes of Mount Etna. These are just a few of the traits that can describe Shalai’s cuisine, headed by Chef Giovanni Santoro, at the Michelin star restaurant that is also set in the 19th century mansion, along with the boutique hotel, here at the heart of Linguaglossa. This deep connection between the land and the culinary products it can offer, especially with the volcanic soil of this ‘Great Mountain’ (in Sicilian ‘A Muntagna) will make your heart skip a beat. Mount Etna, being so close to the seaside, offers a unique combination of perspectives that is beautifully interpreted and rendered in the culture of the people who inhabit the area. This spirit is captured in Santoro’s cuisine, and his dishes have a strong and heartfelt character, guided by the landscapes. Each dish expresses this strong identity, but also a veil of mystery that can only be detected on a second taste. Every ingredient is studied carefully, each combination is the result of many attempts and developments. The final result is never overbearing; Chef Giovanni Santoro is a master in offering a balanced yet intense experience that will strike the heart as well as the palate.