Chef Stefano’s Culinary Adventure

After his formal chefs training and European apprenticeship. Chef Stefano proceeded to engage in New Yorks “A” at Joanna’s restaurant. This snapshot in time and article in People Magazine featuring such famous clients like Elizabeth Taylor and Farrah Fawcett set all other’s eateries apart.
This chef connected with restaurateur Gianni Utzelli and Robert Shapiro. This group consisted of seven restaurants, all featuring fresh pasta produced by Chef Stefano. The team worked hard and stuck to the vision of creating a dynasty. The unique bilingual food concept/kitchen resembling that of the Rothschild meets the Ford Motor company. A new project established and named Gianni’s South Street Seaport soon became NYCs latest attraction in the financial district. This milestone was also mirrored in Baltimore’s seaport district by Roebling’s who designed the Brooklyn Bridge and seaports across this country.

As a member of this elite food team, Chef Stefano competed in a culinary salon. The team won a gold medal, which secured Chef Lisa Beferee a place on the United States Culinary Olympic Team, with Chef Stefano as an alternate. “To this day, I am still so proud of the honor,” Chef Stefano lives up to this oath daily.

After achieving success in restaurants, hotels, exclusive clubs and landmark events. Chef Stefano turned his talent and love for food by launching and consulting on new projects. Along with fundraising efforts with charities like Make a Wish Foundation. His passion and talent secured his partnership at Town Kitchen & Bar. Town Kitchen and bars instant review. Marked and awarded him best new restaurant that year in South Miami’s : New Times Magazine. For creative casual cuisine at reasonable prices for locals.

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The globe-trotting chef’s next tour of duty was at Loews Hotel on Paradise Island in commonwealth of the Bahamas the. As executive chef, he created amazing foods, fusing the herbs and spices of this Caribbean Island into his cuisine while staying true to the Loews’s brand. The elite guest list included the likes of Prince Rainier of Monaco, Princess Stephanie. Native rocker Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet visiting family during their honeymoon celebration.

After several years of cooking for the jet-set crowd. He was awarded a second rare work permit to Harbor Island, Pink Sands Resort. Travel Magazine awarded it the 1# beach resort. The mission was to rebrand and revamp this elite hideaway for Chris Blackwell of Island Records.

Chef Stefano returned to Florida. He participated in the first food Feast on the Beach event by supermensch Shep Gordon, sponsored by American Express for Sharon Stone’s fundraiser for the Tibetan monks, cooking with Chef Emeril Lagasse, Alice Cooper and actor Michael Douglas & other Hollywood insiders as one of the honored 13 local chefs. This event led to the creation of the TV Food Network South Beach Food & Wine Festival, one of the largest events in the United States.

Currently, Chef Stefano participates in book signings as contributing author for Everyday Grace, Everyday Miracle: Living the Life You Were Born to Live. You can read a chapter in this book about time spent with Oprah.