Orlando, FL - The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show will be taking place September 12–14, 2010 at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando. The event is sponsored by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association; and produced and managed by Reed Exhibitions.

The Show floor will offer focused product areas, information–packed seminars, and many renowned special events. Over 12,000 industry professionals come to discover nearly 10,000 new products at the Southeastern US restaurant and foodservice arena’s place to gather for

trends, education, and solutions. The educational opportunities presented at this event offer access to the sizzling food trends to tantalize guests, as well as up–to–the minute business practices and strategies to optimize operations and stay profitable.

New York, NY - Patina Restaurant Group has opened a new casual pizzeria called Via Napoli, adjacent to Tutto Italia Ristorante, its restaurant in the Italy pavilion in Epcot® World Showcase at Walt Disney World® Resort in Lake Buena Vista. This is the first authentic Italian pizzeria to ever open in the park.

Restaurateur and longtime Patina Restaurant Group CEO Nick Valenti created the Via Napoli concept, based upon his travels in Southern Italy and his time developing and overseeing the successful Naples 45 Ristorante e Pizzeria in New York which was awarded the coveted certification of “La Vera Pizza Napoletana.” While in Naples, Valenti spent time studying the art of dough, crust, sauce and oven temperatures at the famous pizzerias Da Michele and Trianon. At Da Ettore, he discovered the art of pagnotiello, a folded round of pizza dough filled with mozzarella, ham and mushrooms.

“I have always loved the beauty of a simple Neapolitan pizza,” Valenti says. “It’s a perfect food, something beloved by both Italians and Americans. At Via Napoli we will make pizza the traditional Neapolitan way: with a textured, soft and charred crust. I look forward to bringing it to Walt Disney World, where it should be a welcome addition to guests visiting Epcot.”