About Chef Salvatore De Cristofaro
Recent Awards
Born in Foggia, Italy, Chef Salvatore began his training in the culinary arts over 40 years ago. After graduation, he left Italy at a very young age to move to the U.S.
Arriving in the United States, Chef Salvatore's first restaurant job was as the executive chef (for the former) Pavio's Restaurant International, which was located on Bustelton Avenue in Philadelphia, PA.
Chef Salvatore has created and implemented new restaurant and cooking concepts all over the Delaware Valley both in Philadelphia and south Jersey.
He opened his first restaurant, Pinocchio Ristorante in Center City, Philadelphia. As a pioneering part of Philadelphia's restaurant renaissance, Chef Salvatore won awards for "Best New Cuisine Chef," and "Best of Philadelphia" by Philadelphia magazine.
Chef Salvatore opened, owned and operated eight more fine dining restaurants situated in south Jersey, Center City, Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Philadelphia. As a savvy entrepreneur, Chef Salvatore was able to make these establishments successful and lucrative to sell each concept.
In 1994, Sands Casino in Atlantic City recruited Chef Salvatore to enhance the Gourmet Department at the resort's prized-jewel restaurant Medici. Chef Salvatore was instrumental in helping Medici Restaurant win awards such as: "Best Restaurant Atlantic City, (1995-1999)"; "Best Restaurant, (1997-1999)," and "Number One Best Italian Restaurant in Atlantic City (1999)" from Casino Player Magazine.
In 1997, Chef Salvatore won the prestigious Zagat survey award for "Best Chef in Atlantic City" for his achievements at Medici Restaurant.
In 1999, Donald Trump and the Trump Casino Organization hired Chef Salvatore as the executive gourmet chef for the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel Resort.
Chef Salvatore has had the pleasure of preparing special dinners for Andrea Boccelli, Julio Iglesias, Vice President Al Gore, Robin Leach, and the late; Luciano Pavarotti, Frank Sinatra, Jake La Motta and Joe Di Maggio to name a few!
Chef Salvatore had the honor of being a Guest Chef at the White House under the President George W. Bush in 2006 and President Barack Obama in 2010.
Chef Salvatore has been associated and had the honor of cooking with Roger Vergé (Moulin de Mougins Restaurant in France), Claudio Caldini (executive chef of Instituto Alberghiero of Culinary Arts, Castel Fusano Rome, Italy), Emile Young (Le Cocodrille restaurant, Northern France), Ciro Miccione (Le Cirque, NYC), Luigi Cacace (Casanova Restaurant, Capri, Italy), André Soltner (Lutece Restaurant, NYC), Georges Perrier (Le Bec-Fin, Philadelphia), Mario Batali (Babbo Restaurant, NYC), David Rosengraten (Food Network, NYC) and Jean Luis Palladin (The Watergate Restaurant, Washington, District of Columbia).
Chef Salvatore was a recipient of the "Chef's Five Star Diamond Award" from the Academy of Hospitality Sciences in 1995 and 1996.
Chef Salvatore is now retired from the kitchen and ready to share his over 40 years of "tried and true" restaurant experience with you in a fun-filled, relaxing setting!
Today, Chef Salvatore is a motivational and educational speaker on such hot topics as:
"Do you want to own a restaurant?"
"Prepare menus and plan meals just like a Pro!"
"How to start your own catering business"
"The basics of kitchen coordination"
"From gourmand to paid gourmet chef" and much, much more...
Chef Salvatore is available for celebrity chef appearances, private and public events, and his "CHEF SALVATORE CULINARY SEMINARS™" are full of the secrets that (without his 'no prereguisite course') can only be attained by spending countless years working in the restaurant industry!!!
Chef Salvatore and Robin Leach