Hi! I'm Chef Joe!

I cook because I love the moment someone takes their first bite and lights up. The heat, the pressure, the long days in the kitchen — it’s all worth it when food brings genuine happiness to the table.

My cooking is grounded in classic Italian cuisine, where technique and respect for ingredients matter most. I love honoring tradition while pushing flavors just far enough to make a dish memorable. For me, creativity works best when it’s built on a strong foundation.

I grew up between Harrison, New York and the farmlands of Pennsylvania, experiences that shaped my appreciation for fresh ingredients and honest cooking. I started working in kitchens early — helping out at my uncle’s deli at just eight or nine years old, stocking the steam table and baking muffins on weekends. From the very beginning, the kitchen felt like home.

A defining moment came during my first hotel kitchen job. Watching chefs work hard, laugh, and truly be themselves made it clear that this was where I belonged. Cooking holidays with my aunt further shaped how I approach food today — with love, passion, and respect — because food made that way always tastes better.

One of the biggest milestones in my career was cooking at Eleven Madison Park under Chef Daniel Humm, during the time it was ranked among the best restaurants in the world. That experience sharpened my technique and elevated my craft in ways that still influence how I cook today.

What I love most about the kitchen are the sounds and sensations — the clanking pans, the smell of vegetables rendering in sauce pots, and especially the sharp sizzle when protein hits a hot pan. Outside the kitchen, I enjoy making homemade wine and mead, curing meats, tending to plants, and playing video games with friends. I’m also a proud cat dad to two rescued cats, Scooter and Lily.

Italy, Spain, and Asia sit at the top of my travel list, continuing to inspire my cooking and curiosity.

What I Can Do for You

Create thoughtful, technique-driven meals rooted in classic flavors
Cook food that feels comforting, elevated, and intentional
Design menus for everyday dining or special occasions
Bring Italian foundations with creative influence into your home
Take care of people through food — with precision and heart

Cooking is how I show care. Every meal I make is built on respect for ingredients, technique, and the people I’m cooking for.

My Style

Italian-inspired classics with a creative edge
Strong technique and intentional execution
Honest ingredients cooked the right way
A kitchen that sounds, smells, and feels alive