Chef Joe I.

Italian roots. A love for technique. A kitchen that feels like home.

Chef Joe has always known food was more than just nourishment — it’s a way to make people happy, bring people together, and create real moments that matter.

He grew up betweenHarrison, New York, and the farmlands of Pennsylvania, where weekends at his uncle’s deli — stocking the steam table, baking muffins, and watching cooks in action — first sparked his love for the kitchen. By the time he was a kid, the hustle and rhythm of a busy kitchen felt like home.

His path wasn’t just about learning recipes — it was a life shaped by experience, curiosity, and real connection to food. His first hotel kitchen job was a turning point: seeing chefs work hard, joke, and support each other made it clear this was where he belonged. Holiday dinners with his aunt taught him early that food made with love always tastes better — and that lesson still guides everything he cooks.

While Chef Joe loves all kinds of food, his heart truly sings for classic Italian-inspired cooking built on strong technique and honest ingredients. Whether it’s perfectly rendered proteins, rich sauces, or thoughtfully layered dishes, he believes food should feel both comforting and intentional.

One of his most defining professional experiences was cooking at Eleven Madison Park under Chef Daniel Humm, back when the restaurant was ranked among the best in the world. That time sharpened his skills, deepened his respect for technique, and elevated his craft in ways that continue to guide his cooking today.

To Joe, the kitchen is a full-sensory experience — the sound of a hot pan, the smell of onions sweating into sauce, the rhythm of hands and mind working in sync. On his days off, he pursues other passions with the same curiosity: making homemade wine and mead, curing meats, tending plants, playing video games with friends, and spending time with his two rescued cats, Scooter and Lily.

Travel inspires his palate too — Italy, Spain, and Asia are at the top of his culinary bucket list, each promising new flavors and experiences to bring back to his own table.