Umberto Bombana trained under Ezio Santin. He worked at Toscana at the Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong from 1993. He was a prime mover in introducing the white truffle to Hong Kong's restaurant scene, and he introduced the World White Truffle of Alba Auction to Hong Kong. In 2006, Bombana was appointed by Piedmontese Regional Enoteca Cavour as their International White Truffle Ambassador.[3]
The Ritz-Carlton hotel was demolished in 2008 to make way for the building of China Construction Bank.[4] Umberto Bombana then opened 8+1⁄2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana in January 2010. The restaurant's name is a tribute to Bombana's favorite Italian film director Federico Fellini's 1963 autobiographical movie 8+1⁄2.[5]
On 13 November 2011, 8+1⁄2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana hosted the Hong Kong bidders for the annual World White Truffle of Alba Auction, linking by satellite to the Italian auction grounds.[6]
On 9 January 2014, Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd announced that the 8+1⁄2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana restaurant will be a feature at Galaxy Macau's under construction Ritz-Carlton hotel, which will open in mid-2015.[7]
^港產意式餐廳升呢獲三星級 平價腸粉店入選米芝蓮 [Hong Kong Italian restaurant awarded three Michelin stars]. Apple Daily (in Chinese). 2 December 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
^ ab松露王炮製桌上好戲 [White truffle prepared at table]. Oriental Daily (in Chinese). 16 April 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
Michelin Guide, 2015
