Rocco DiSpirito
Celebrated Chef Rocco DiSpirito devotes his culinary expertise to Bravo's new series that takes the competition beyond the kitchen. Rocco's Dinner Party gives three highly skilled chefs a shot at creating the perfect meal and most memorable evening for DiSpirito and his handpicked celebrity guests.
DiSpirito first gained widespread acclaim after opening his multi-starred New York City restaurant Union Pacific. He was the first chef to grace the cover of Gourmet magazine as "America's Most Exciting Young Chef," and was voted America's "Best New Chef," by Food & Wine magazine. In her three-star review, the venerable New York TimesRestaurant Critic Ruth Reichl said: "in less capable hands, mad delusions, in DiSpirito's hands, pure genius."Read More
Celebrated Chef Rocco DiSpirito devotes his culinary expertise to Bravo's new series that takes the competition beyond the kitchen. Rocco's Dinner Party gives three highly skilled chefs a shot at creating the perfect meal and most memorable evening for DiSpirito and his handpicked celebrity guests.
DiSpirito first gained widespread acclaim after opening his multi-starred New York City restaurant Union Pacific. He was the first chef to grace the cover of Gourmet magazine as "America's Most Exciting Young Chef," and was voted America's "Best New Chef," by Food & Wine magazine. In her three-star review, the venerable New York Times Restaurant Critic Ruth Reichl said: "in less capable hands, mad delusions, in DiSpirito's hands, pure genius." His culinary skills have also earned him several significant awards, including the cherished James Beard Award for his first cookbook, Flavor.
A native New Yorker, Dispirito learned his early culinary skills in his Italian mother's kitchen. Upon graduating from both the prestigious Culinary Institute of America and Boston University, he spent over 25 years working in the United States and abroad developing a unique sense of flavor that is distinguished by his intriguing combination of ingredients.
DiSpirito is the author of six highly acclaimed cookbooks, including the Number One New York Times best sellers Now Eat This! and Now Eat This DIET!
In addition to his classical chef training, Dispirito has starred in the Food Network series, Melting Pot, the NBC hit reality series The Restaurant, and the A&E series, Rocco Gets Real. A frequent guest on The Rachel Ray Show, Good Morning America, and The Dr. Oz Show, DiSpirito is no stranger to live television. He has also appeared on The Tonight Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Late Night with David Letterman, The View, The Today Show, Ellen, Jimmy Kimmel, Chelsea Lately, competed on ABC's Dancing With The Stars and was the guest chef on NBC's The Biggest Loser for multiple seasons.
Dispirito has been featured in hundreds of national magazine articles and is a current member of the Fitness magazine advisory board as well as a regular contributor to Runner's World. In 2003, People magazine named him the "Sexiest Chef Alive."
An avid triathlete and an advocate of healthy living, Dispirito, is a spokesperson for Feeding America, Food Bank, and Dr. Oz's HealthCorps. He believes healthy and delicious are no longer mutually exclusive.
