Cesare Casella

Cesare Casella (born March 1, 1960 in Lucca, Italy) is an Italian chef, restaurateur, writer, consultant and educator. He is the owner and executive chef of two Italian restaurants in New York City and an expert in Tuscan Italian cuisine. He currently holds the position as the Dean of Italian Studies at the International Culinary Center in New York City, which is also home to The French Culinary Institute. Casella is the founder of the Italian Cooking School by Cesare Casella that strives to teach about the true meaning of Italian culture and cooking. He owns and operates the Republic of Beans, which imports Italian heirloom beans. He also serves as a consultant to upscale distributing companies for salami and Italian food trattorias.

Casella’s signature style includes a piece of fresh rosemary in his shirt pocket.

Casella learned the trade at Vipore, the trattoria owned by his parents, Rosa and Pietro, outside of Lucca, Italy. At age 14, Casella enrolled in the Culinary Institute Ferdinando Martini, in Montecatini, Italy, despite his parents wishes. After graduating, he worked in his parents' trattoria in an effort to transform Vipore from a local favorite into both a regional and international destination. He began developing his trademark herbal cuisine, thanks in part to a garden with over 40 types of aromatic herbs, and updating traditional Italian recipes with new ideas and twists. By 1991, Cesare had earned Vipore a Michelin Guide star and a reputation that attracted clients from Henry Kissinger to Tom Cruise.

Casella believes being Italian is not about the kind of food you eat or the fashion you wear. It is about a lifestyle that embraces simplicity, knowledge and enjoyment of life. He now lives with his wife and daughter in New York City.