About
Chef, restaurateur, and TV personality known for his work as a chef and partner with the MINA Group and for leading restaurants such as RN74 in San Francisco, Bourbon Steak in Washington, D.C., and Sorelle in Charleston, South Carolina. He is also known for his frequent appearances on Food Network shows including Tournament of Champions, Guy's Grocery Games, Guy's Ranch Kitchen, and Chopped.
Before fame
He attended a culinary vocational high school before he studied at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. He worked in kitchens including Piping Rock Club in New York, Seeger's in Atlanta, and Charlie Trotter's in Chicago early in his career. He became chef de cuisine at Restaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas and the restaurant earned two Michelin stars, before moving to Washington, D.C. to lead Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons.
Trivia
He was named San Francisco's Chef of the Year in 2016 and has received top tier reviews including three- and four-star newspaper ratings for his restaurants. He won Cochon 555 San Francisco in 2013 and then the national Grand Cochon title which earned him the nickname "King of Porc." He is also the founder of the hospitality group Aether Group and has created branded food products such as Sobelini Pizza Crunch.
Family life
He grew up in a tight-knit Italian American family on Long Island and credits his Sicilian grandmother "Nana Lu" with inspiring his love of cooking through Sunday family meals. He has appeared on Guy's Grocery Games in a couples themed competition episode alongside his wife Jessica Sobel.
Associated with
He is a longtime collaborator of Michael Mina, who is the James Beard Award-winning celebrity chef and restaurateur behind the MINA Group. He has also worked with Guy Fieri through multiple Food Network competitions and judging appearances.
