LIVE Magazine- Issue #268, March 9, 2018

Fabio Viviani
Chef, Culinary Personality,
Restaurateur, Cookbook Author
Chef Fabio Viviani has possessed a passion
for food since his childhood growing up in
Florence, Italy. At age 11, Viviani worked
nights at a local bakery (since he was
too young to officially join the staff), and
during his teenage years he held a variety
of positions, even serving under the
mentorship of Simone Mugnaini, an iconic
figure in the Italian restaurant industry.
Between his training in Italian and Mediterranean
cuisine at IPSSAR Saffi and
working with culinary luminaries such
as Mugnaini, Alessandro Panzani, and
Saverio Carmagini, Viviani owned and
operated five restaurants in Florence, a
farm house, and two nightclubs by the
time he was 27. Although a well-respected
businessman in Italy, he was ready for
a change and moved to Ventura County,
California, where he opened Café Firenze
in Moorpark.
Teaming up with one of Chicago’s most
innovative restaurant consulting groups,
Dine|Amic, Viviani went on to open
Siena Tavern in Chicago in 2013, which
received accolades from Michigan Avenue
and Chicago Tribune, to name a few.
2014 saw the debut of Mercato by Fabio
Viviani, a quick-service Italian concept in
Chicago and San Diego, and the launch
of Fabio Viviani Wine Collection. Viviani
also opened his new steak restaurant,
Prime and Provisions, as well as Bar Siena,
both in Chicago in 2015. In January 2016,
Fabio opened Osteria by Fabio Viviani at
the Los Angeles International Airport’s
Delta Terminal. Additionally, Mercato by
Fabio Viviani, a rustic, yet refined eatery,
is located in Chicago; San Diego; Detroit;
Tempe, Arizona; Phoenix; and Benton
Harbor, Michigan.
Perhaps best known for his television
debut on Bravo’s hit reality series Top
Chef — earning the Fan Favorite title —
his on-screen appearances have propelled
him to become one of the fastest growing
household names in the country. In
addition to competing on Bravo’s Top Chef
All Stars and starring in the spinoff, Life
After Top Chef, Viviani has appeared as a
recurring guest on such television shows
as Good Morning America, The Rachael
Ray Show, The Talk, Hallmark Home &
Family, The Chew, Good Day LA, and Access
Hollywood.
He has hosted regular spots on the QVC
www.palmdesertfoodandwine.com
channel with various kitchen appliances
and products and was also the host of
the Telly and Webby award–winning web
series Chow Ciao! on Yahoo!, one of the
top 10 lifestyle and food shows on the
internet. Off-screen, Viviani is a regular
headliner at global food events and festivals,
has his own line of ceramic cookware
(Co-Branded Signature Series Aeternum
Evolution), and is a proud endorser of
beloved brands such as Bialetti Cookware
and Bauli authentic Italian baked
goods. He has authored three successful
cookbooks: Café Firenze Cookbook, The
New York Times best-seller Fabio’s Italian
Kitchen, Fabio’s American Home Kitchen,
and the just-released 30-Minute Italian.
Recently, Viviani started the Know-How
Leadership Academy, where he shares tips
and advice with young entrepreneurs and
also connects with them through his own
digital publication, Know-How Magazine.