Born and raised in Florence, Italy, Fabio attended Italy's Institutuo Professionale per I Servizi Alberghieri, focusing on advanced Tuscan and regional cooking as well as a wide variety of specialty courses. He has traveled across Europe and incorporates Italian, French and Spanish influences in all his dishes. In his hometown of Florence, Italy, Fabio co-owned and managed several Florentine restaurants before bringing his Tuscan dishes
and Florentine flair to Southern California in 2005. Fabio's career took a star turn after being cast in the fifth season of Bravo's "Top Chef," where he earned the title of "Fan Favorite." This summer, Fabio and childhood friend and restaurant partner, Jacopo Falleni, will release the Café Firenze Cookbook, featuring 24 original recipes paired with specialty cocktails and luxurious wines, including the entire Santa Margherita range. Fabio lives outside of Los Angeles in California with his wife Jessica, his dog Maximus, and his turtle, who doesn't have a name because he's never had to call her. Despite historical data, Fabio questions whether there has ever really been a man on the moon. Fabio's mom still resides in Italy, and when her neighbors told her Fabio could be found on Google, she assumed it was the name of an American television show. Fabio accidentally set his grandmother on fire when he was 5 by foolishly playing with rubbing alcohol and fireworks — a bad combination. In 2005 while living in Italy, Fabio owned 6 restaurants, 3 dance clubs, a bed-and-breakfast and a farmhouse. While Fabio lived in Italy, he never missed watching a single game of his soccer team, Fiorentina, play at the stadium in Florence, Italy. Fabio likes to keep active and plays several sports, including: volleyball, karate, boxing, mixed martial arts, tennis and swimming. Fabio loves almost all food, but really hates two things: cilantro and peanut butter Joel M. Fisher, PhD - Wine Guru
is the wine columnist for the Culinary Connection of the Chefs de Cuisine Association of California. He was a Contributing Editor of Patterson's Beverage Journal. From 1999 to 2006 he was a wine instructor for the Culinary Arts Department of the Art Institute of California-Los Angeles and is a founding partner of the educational Wine Vine and Dine, which conducts programs throughout Southern California. Sommelier for the Escoffier Association of Southern California, Joel is also a member of Patterson Magazine's tasting panel. Dr. Fisher is a member of the Society of Wine Educators, The Circle of Wine Writers (UK) and was awarded a Wine Enthusiast Media Scholarship for 2005 at the Culinary Institute of America. He is the author of the Wine Work Book now in its 6th edition. In 2004 he co-led a program for chefs and culinary students to the Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany and to wineries in Burgundy and Champagne. In June 2006 he again led a program, "Wine and Cuisine of Iberia," to Spain and Portugal.Stephen Andrews - Director Sales & Marketing Villagio Inn & Spa
The Inn features 112 spacious guestrooms arranged in two story building clusters, swimming
pool and jacuzzi, welcome bottle of wine, daily champagne breakfast buffet, afternoon tea, coffee and cookies, concierge and room service. Yountville's epicurean delights. World renowned chefs. Award-winning cuisine. Up and down the street. Just steps from your guestroom. Savory aromas linger, entice. Delight in such pleasures. Food, wine, conversation. Indulge.