I felt so honored to be invited to a taping of Chow Ciao! Yahoo with the charismatic Fabio Viviana.
Upon walking into a Beverly Hills home set in the hills, Producer Kevin Lezak welcomed me onto the set. They were in the middle of taping Fabio skyping with his mother. The show is in its fourth season. When the Director yelled, “Cut,” Fabio graciously walked over and gave me a big hug. Next, he invited me over to the computer and introduced me to his mother and father in Italy.
Today’s show will air around Mother’s Day. Fabio and his mother will teach viewers how to make a red wine risotto with braised short ribs.
Another scene was filmed in the living room. Fabio is a true professional. He takes direction well and adds his alluring and engaging personality into the scene.
As the crew broke for lunch, Fabio offered me to sit and have lunch with him. I got to catch up on his latest endeavors. “I’m so excited about my new restaurants in Chicago and my new cookbook coming out in April,” shared Fabio.
We initially met almost four years ago at his Toluca Lake restaurant, Firenze Osteria’s Grand Opening. I was so enamored with him and his business partner and BFF Jacopo Falleni. Both ooze Italian confidence with their fetching good looks and bewitching Italian accent.
Fabio’s latest cookbook FABIO’S ITALIAN KITCHEN will be on bookshelves and Amazon around April 23, 2013. It’s filled with his Nonna’s recipes from a 300-year old family cookbook. Born in Florence, Italy, the cookbook is filled with tales of Fabio as a boy and 100 recipes. His grandmother’s baking influenced Fabio to become a chef.
As a fan favorite on the Emmy Award show Top Chef New York, Fabio arrived from Italy to Ventura, CA to work with Jacopo at Café Fiore. Next they helped open Café Firenze in Moorpark, CA. With its success, they opened Firenze Osteria in Toluca Lake.
Each restaurant is a reflection of Fabio’s culinary style and Jacopo’s expertise for mixology, service and management. Fabio is very smart. With the success of his The Top Chef recognition and appeal, he put together a team of top-notch people to help him obtain opportunities within the media, endorsement offers and partnership opportunities. His restaurants have an increase waiting list of reservations due to his popularity. All of this makes Fabio one of the fastest growing household name brands in the USA. He is an energetic chef, entrepreneur, television and online personality.
He is also an endorser and partner with many beloved brands in the USA such as Bialetti Cookwear, Bertolli Olive Oil, Terlato Wine International and Yahoo.com.
Fabio has published two successful cookbooks, including the Cafe Firenze Cookbook, The Skinny Country and the e-book Did I Really Make Breakfast, which made it onto multiple Amazon bestseller lists within weeks of release.
Recently, Fabio partnered with DineAmic’s Lucas Stoioff and David Rekhson to open Siena Tavern in Chicago. “We just won an award of #4 in the Top 24 restaurants opening in 2013,” said Fabio. “Open Table gave us an award for over 200 bookings a night.” We have two other restaurants in the Chicago area.
The award winning “Chow Ciao! is the #1 Lifestyle and Food show on the internet,” boast Fabio. “Out of 3,700 entries, this show was #1 in the Food Category.” His show attracts millions of people toward the Yahoo.com homepage every week, with a new episode every Monday. “We are the only online show with Closed-Captions so far,” stated Fabio.
When not taping Chow Ciao! Fabio is a recurring guest on Good Morning America, The Talk, The Chew on ABC, Ellen DeGeneres, Good Day LA, Access Hollywood, Playboy Radio, LA Live, Fran Drescher, Bonnie Hunt, Bethenny Frankel, Today Show and Zagat.com.
Fabio wakes up at 5 a.m. every morning and works until 6:30 a.m. answering his emails and correspondence for new projects. By 7 a.m. he is out the door appearing on television shows, teaching a cooking class and visiting his restaurants. He comes home around 10 p.m. and works some more.
“I have not had a Sunday off since I was 15 years old,” Fabio informed me. “The last time I took a day off was in October, 2012. I enjoy what I do and wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Want to meet Fabio? He will be at his Firenze Osteria on March 31, 2013 at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a cooking class. The class is $55 per person. (818)760-7081.
5212 Lankershim Blvd., Toluca Lake, CA, 91602
Visit his two restaurants in Southern California –
Firenze Osteria is located at 4212 Lankershim Boulevard, Universal City, CA 91602 • (818) 760-7081 • www.firenzeosteria.com
Café Firenze is at 563 W Los Angeles Ave., Moorpark, CA 93021 • (805) 532-0048 • www.cafefirenze.net
Interviews with great personalities 