Michael White (chef)

Michael White is the Head Chef and Owner of the Altamarea Group, which is composed of the restaurants Marea, Ai Fiori, Vaucluse, Osteria Morini, Nicoletta, Costata and The Butterfly in New York, Osteria Morini and Due Mari in New Jersey, and Al Molo in Hong Kong. Marea has earned two Michelin stars and is a member of the prestigious Relais and Chateaux. Ai Fiori has also earned a Michelin star.

Although Michael White's soulful, flavorful interpretations of Italian cuisine indicate otherwise, Michael is in fact a Midwesterner who spent his childhood in Beloit, Wisconsin and enrolled in Kendall Culinary Institute 1989. He trained at Ristorante San Domenico in Imola, Italy under the culinary guidance of chef Valentino Marcattilii. For the next seven years, he studied the hands-on, ingredient-driven cooking style of the Italians. Chef White also trained extensively in Paris and South France in different locations

In 2007, White partnered with Ahmass Fakahany to open Due Terre and later Due Mari in New Jersey, and both were highly acclaimed. He then took control of L'Impero and Alto in mid-town Manhattan. Alto quickly garnered three stars from The New York Times and one Michelin Star for 2009 and two stars for the 2010 and 2011 Guides. In 2010, White also transformed L'Impero into Convivio, which was awarded one Michelin star in the 2011 Guide.

In September 2008, Ahmass Fakahany and Michael White opened their second New Jersey restaurant called Due Mari in New Brunswick.

In May 2009, Fakahany and White opened Marea which garnered three stars from The New York Times, two Michelin stars in the 2012 Guide and Best New Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation. Marea also received several Best New Restaurant accolades from different organizations and has been featured in magazines all over the world.

In October 2010, Fakahany and White opened the first Osteria Morini in downtown Manhattan which holds true to the rich flavors of Italy's Emilia-Romagna region. In February 2012, they rebranded Due Terre in Bernardsville to become the second outpost of Osteria Morini. Osteria Morini at the Navy Yards opened in Washington D.C. in November 2013.

In November 2010, White ventured into the cuisine of the European Riviera with Ai Fiori at the Langham Place Hotel with a Mediterranean-inspired menu that focuses on the Italian and French Rivieras. In its first year Ai Fiori received one Michelin Star and three Stars from The New York Times.

In May 2011, White and the Altamarea Group opened Al Molo in Hong Kong, which translates to "The Pier" in Italian. Al Molo is located on the Victoria Harbour waterfront at Ocean Terminal overlooking the legendary Hong Kong skyline.