Executive Chef
Giorgio Giacinto was born of parents who came to the Bronx, New York from Calabria, Italy to start living the American dream. Not being the oldest boy or girl, Giorgio had to learn early how to make his mark in the family while being a caring big brother to one more sister. His father was quite the entrepreneur, being a musician and banquet chef and this had a huge impact on the young boy. The family didn’t have much but they had a lot of love, music, and great food. And that’s where Giorgio found his inspiration.
He had an advantage with his dad in the business but he had to work really hard – no “free meal”. From the age of 12, he was in kitchens, at restaurants, doing anything he could – dishwasher, busboy, waiter, moving up to be a captain and maitre d’. He just couldn’t wait to get out of high school, he was literally salivating to get to culinary school.
He no sooner graduated than he started at New York Restaurant School in Manhattan. While going to school, he kept working as a line cook to employ every trick of the trade as he learned it. After graduating in 1997, he worked throughout Manhattan increasing his skills.
When his Aunt Pina named Giorgio as chef of her restaurant, Mangia, he took on the challenge, bringing it to success with her guidance, but wanting more, he left for Italy in 2001.
Giorgio went from Calabria to Venice, serving as apprentice in over 15 different places – from “nonna’s kitchen”-type family trattorias to the beachfront restaurants of Calabria to the esteemed L’Ambaciatta D’Abruzzi in Parioli, Rome. After a year of such an enriching journey, he returned to New York to take all that he’d learned and bring it to Westchester.
He founded Da Giorgio Restaurant in 2007 in loving memory of his father Giorgio, who infused everything he did with song and flavor.
Giorgio’s love is in the simplicity of traditional Calabrese Italian cuisine but with his own creative take on the classics. His great joy is found in his family and welcoming you to his table.
Giorgio Giacinto was born of parents who came to the Bronx, New York from Calabria, Italy to start living the American dream. Not being the oldest boy or girl, Giorgio had to learn early how to make his mark in the family while being a caring big brother to one more sister. His father was quite the entrepreneur, being a musician and banquet chef and this had a huge impact on the young boy. The family didn’t have much but they had a lot of love, music, and great food. And that’s where Giorgio found his inspiration.
He had an advantage with his dad in the business but he had to work really hard – no “free meal”. From the age of 12, he was in kitchens, at restaurants, doing anything he could – dishwasher, busboy, waiter, moving up to be a captain and maitre d’. He just couldn’t wait to get out of high school, he was literally salivating to get to culinary school.
He no sooner graduated than he started at New York Restaurant School in Manhattan. While going to school, he kept working as a line cook to employ every trick of the trade as he learned it. After graduating in 1997, he worked throughout Manhattan increasing his skills.
When his Aunt Pina named Giorgio as chef of her restaurant, Mangia, he took on the challenge, bringing it to success with her guidance, but wanting more, he left for Italy in 2001.
Giorgio went from Calabria to Venice, serving as apprentice in over 15 different places – from “nonna’s kitchen”-type family trattorias to the beachfront restaurants of Calabria to the esteemed L’Ambaciatta D’Abruzzi in Parioli, Rome. After a year of such an enriching journey, he returned to New York to take all that he’d learned and bring it to Westchester.
He founded Da Giorgio Restaurant in 2007 in loving memory of his father Giorgio, who infused everything he did with song and flavor.
Giorgio’s love is in the simplicity of traditional Calabrese Italian cuisine but with his own creative take on the classics. His great joy is found in his family and welcoming you to his table.
