Celebrate New Year in Michelin starred style in Italy

Lefay Resort & Spa, overlooking Italy's Lake Garda will be celebrating the start of 2013 in style with a gala dinner cooked by one of Italy's top chefs.

Gianni D'Amato of Rigoletto, a renowned restaurant with two Michelin stars in Italy's Emilia region, will cook a special tasting menu including some of his signature dishes.  His restaurant was badly damaged in the earthquake, which hit the region last Spring.

The evening will start with cocktails and canapes created by Chef Gianni.  These include mortadella ice cream and pickled anchovies.  The dinner menu features dishes such as crab and guacamole risotto, veal cheek with smoked potatoes, candied ginger, apple and hibiscus and cuttlefish with lemon and passion fruit.

The midnight desert buffet created by Gianni D'Amato will use special colours and symbols to carry luck into the New Year.  The festivities will be accompanied by a jazz and rock band.

Guests booking the festivities package will also be able to kick off the New Year with a relaxing massage and unwind in the resort's salt water lake.

Lefay Resort's New Year festivities package costs from £803 per person and includes three nights accommodation in a prestige junior suite with breakfast, the Michelin-starred New Year's Eve dinner, traditional Italian New Year's Day lunch, entrance to the Lefay Spa, one relaxing body massage and a session in the resort's salt water lake.

Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda is set in 27 acres of woodland and olive groves in the Alto Garda National park overlooking Lake Garda.  There are five different types of sauna, a salt water lake for floatation therapies, a state of the art gym and outdoor and indoor swimming pools.  It offers a new type of holiday that combines environmental sustainability, luxury accommodation and innovative wellness experiences with all the style of Italy.

For reservations, visit lefayresorts.com.