Dr. Oetker and Top Chef's Fabio

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. AND STUDIO CITY, C.A. - February 25, 2009 – Fans of Bravo TV’s Top Chef can look forward to more flavor from the series’ “Italian Stallion,” Fabio Viviani. Dr. Oetker, the number one frozen pizza manufacturer in Italy, is launching its best-selling Ristorante brand in the United States and the season five star has signed on to be the spokesperson.

Fabio Viviani, who was born in Florence and recalls Dr. Oetker pizza from his childhood, will participate in a five-city media tour this summer to introduce the favorite brand of thin-crust pizza lovers throughout Europe and Canada to consumers in the northeastern United States.

“Growing up in Italy, my mom often had Dr. Oetker’s products in the home so I’m excited to help introduce Ristorante brand frozen pizzas to American households,” explained Viviani. “As a chef, I am very particular about the ingredients that I select. That’s why I am a fan of Dr. Oetker’s Ristorante pizza because it features fresh, high-quality ingredients, such as spinach, mozzarella, mushrooms and other vegetables on a thin crispy crust.“

Dr. Oetker approached Fabio Viviani early in his run on Top Chef because of his passion for Italian flavor and entertaining, unique, lively personality, quirky sense of humor and Italian background.

“We are eager to introduce the authentic taste of Dr. Oetker Ristorante to American pizza-lovers and feel Fabio is the perfect voice for the brand,” said William Whalen, executive vice president for Dr. Oetker U.S.A., LLC. “He has an incredible personality and a real passion for cooking, eating and entertaining with great food.”

Also, sales at Viviani’s restaurant Café Firenze are up 40 percent due to his popularity on Top Chef. While his run on the hit show ended one week shy of the season finale, Fabio Viviani still wants to encourage his fans to enjoy great, fresh-tasting food both at restaurants as well as in the home.

“A lot of Americans are eating out less often but they still want to enjoy the taste and fresh flavors like the ones featured on Top Chef or found in an Italian restaurant, such as Cafe Firenze,” said Viviani. “Dr. Oetker’s Ristorante pizza is a delicious and convenient way to capture the essence of Italian restaurant dining in the home.”

Dr. Oetker Ristorante pizza is already available for purchase in major retailers in the Northeast U.S. Products are priced from $4.99 to $5.99. To learn more about Dr. Oetker, please visit www.oetker.us.

About Fabio Viviani

Fabio is the Owner and Executive Chef of Café Firenze Italian Restaurant and Martini Bar, one of the most recognized restaurants in Ventura County. Born and raised in Florence, Italy, he has traveled across Europe and is trained in classic Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. He incorporates Italian, French and Spanish influences in his dishes and believes that cooking is a craft.

He is currently working on opening the Firenze4Kids Foundation, which will emphasize the promotion of health and wellness for kids through good nutrition and will also launch kidshealthcafe.com, the largest informative resource library available online, designed to enhance a healthy and safe lifestyle for children. Additionally, Fabio also works as William Shatner's private chef.

Fabio’s first cookbook, Café Firenze Cookbook which will pair his gourmet recipes with martinis will be on shelves mid-April.

For additional information from the press

www.cafefirenze.net.

About Dr. Oetker

The Dr. Oetker company started in Germany in 1891 with the development of a special baking powder, Backin, that produced extraordinary baking results. More than 30 years ago, the first frozen pizza was launched in Germany and, today, Dr. Oetker is the market leader of frozen pizza in most European countries. In 2003, Ristorante Pizza was introduced in Canada and has continued to maintain an overwhelming amount of success in the market place. For more information about Dr. Oetker and Ristorante, please visit www.oetker.us.