Gaetano Ascione

Chef Gaetano Ascione is a citizen of the world. A native of Naples, Italy, his culinary career began when he was awarded a Masters Degree in Hotel Training from Istituto Alberghiero di Stato in Salerno, Italy. He began his practical experience working as Chef de Partie in Italy, Germany, the UK, and the Bahamas. He was a finalist in the Chef of the Year competition at the World Gourmet Summit in Singapore in 2001. He is fluent in five languages: Italian, English, Spanish, German and French.

Some of his career highlights include serving two U.S. Presidents, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, as Chef de Cuisine at the Georgetown Club in Washington DC. He also served as Executive Chef for the Inaugural Banquet for President Nelson Mandela in Pretoria, South Africa. He has been Executive Chef in such diverse places as the NATO Allied Officer's Club in Naples, Italy; the Paradise Beach Hotel and Casino in Busan, South Korea; the oldest private club in Singapore-the Tanglin Club; and the Palace Hotel and Casino in Sun City, South Africa.

He is currently Chef at Gioco Restaurant in Chicago. He and his beautiful wife Lia have three cherished children, Shoshannah, Nadav and Matteo.