Chef Joey

Chef Joey learned L'Arte D'Arrangiarsi — the art of creating something from nothing — from his Italian family while living in Italy. It's his way of expressing what it means to cook by feel, instinct, and momentary inspiration.

Chef Joey was born & raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, specifically, San Jose, an area most don't know was predominately developed by Italian immigrants during the late 19th & early 20th centuries. A second generation American, he has Italian heritage on both his mother & fathers paternal sides. With family ties to Taormina & Messina, Sicily, as well as Torino & Trieste far in the north, & family scattered elsewhere, as well as friends who may as well be family in Rome.

His love for cooking began as a small child; sitting on the kitchen counter "helping" his mother make chocolate chip cookies. As soon as he was capable, he began his culinary adventures on his own...even if it was a just box of Betty Crocker Blue Berry Muffin Mix at age 7 (hey, he did it himself....those picture instructions were fantastic). Chef Joey graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Los Angeles, California with honors & hasn’t touched a box of muffin mix since.

Each year Chef Joey returns to Italy to visit with friends and family. While abroad he learns new skills, techniques, & dishes, in addition to bringing back inspiration that he then passes onto his clients.