Fabio Viviani

Fabio Viviani won over America with his thick Italian accent and suave yet gregarious nature on Top Chef: New York Season 5, and while he didn’t win the cooking competition, he did win the title of Fan Favorite. He came back to compete on Top Chef All-Stars season eight bringing his Italian classics back to the kitchen. Born and raised in Florence, Italy, Fabio’s culinary career began at the age of 11 when he started working in a bakery from midnight to 7 a.m. every night. At age 14, he began working at the Italian Florentine iconic restaurant “Il Pallaio,” and became the restaurant’s sous chef at age 16. He then attended culinary school and traveled across Europe, training in classic Italian and European cuisine. Fabio is now the Owner and Executive Chef of Café Firenze in Moorpark, CA and Firenze Osteria in Toluca Lake, CA, and will soon open an Italian concept in Chicago, IL. Fabio has published two successful cookbooks including Café Firenze Cookbook, The Skinny Country, and e-book Did I Really Make Breakfast, which received best seller awards in various e-book categories. A regular contributor for websites and magazines worldwide, his second book, featuring his hundred-year-old family recipes, is due out in 2013. Fabio has never met a hand he did not want to kiss and with use of the sheer radiance of his dazzling personality, he hopes to build his empire and extend his brand by constantly involving himself with global food festivals, morning show appearances, charity events, the award-winning web show, Chow Ciao, and multiple partnerships.