With the purpose of strengthening restaurant operations, owners of Dominican restaurants have united to form the Asociaci?n Nacional de Restaurantes (Asonares). The nationwide organization?s board is presided over by Elizabeth Schecker (Restaurante Scherezade), Giancarlo Bonarelli (Vesuvio II), Catalina Henriquez (Reina de Espa?a), Titina Bonarelli (Vesuvio), Felipe Lopez (Casa de las Paellas), Marino D?az (Bucanero), Virginia Gomez (Palmito Gourmet), and Rafael Caama?o (Maniqu?). A consulting committee will also be part of the new organization, comprised of veteran restaurant owners Otto Ricart (Meson de la Cava) and Adolfo San Francisco (Cantabrico). The association has the support of the National Hotel & Restaurant Association and estimates that there are 500 restaurants in Santo Domingo alone.