Ciao e Benvenuto!

 My Background

Ciao!

I am from Rieti a small town in the middle of Italy. In 2003 I moved to NYC to follow my American Dream!

My passion for cooking started when I was very young in Italy, during the weekend my parents would drop me off at my grandmother's house; it was during these moments together that I discovered my love for cooking. 

Later in the years at 18, I decided to go to school and pursue my passion, my life; was a promise I made to my grandmother that I would never stop trying, never lose my passion for cooking never stop pursuing my dreams!

I started working as a cook in 1996 and  travelled all around Europe working, learning and feeding my hunger/knowledge for food! In 2003 I came to NYC on vacation to see my brother (who've been living in the U.S. for over 15 years).

While on vacation I was at "Cipriani Dolci" (one of the Cipriani location in Manhattan) where I met Dennis (a chef working at Cipriani) he told me that there was a chance to work with them.

So I DID!
I went back to Italy and sold my restaurant (a 30 seat classic Italian "trattoria" with homemade wine, organic and local product) and moved to New York.
After almost 5 years with Cipriani, we parted ways. During that time I worked around the NYC kitchen, from pizzerias to high class restaurants -  constantly improving and learning different styles and techniques, learning the secrets and the tricks to perfect my craft.

In 2010 I was trying to figure out what it was that I really wanted from my life, my passion for food at one point was going down and down and after almost 15 years I was not secure, I was not sure if this was what I really wanted from my life. 

I was outside  of "Boom" (a very strange and eclectic restaurant in the heart of Soho that I was the Executive Chef ) when I was approached to audition for Food Network's Chopped. I wasn't sure; however the next morning I sent them an email, was interviewed and then was called in to for the show. 

I was not sure what I was doing but I decided to give it a shot. 

I went to "Chopped" and won but it was more than just the $10,000 I won on "Chopped",  it was also my confidence that I won back, my love for food, my passion to create!

I am Jonny Giordani and this is my story.