Talking Brunch with ‘Chef’ Joseph Gannascoli

[photo by Andrew Richter/imagesAR]

“I drink too much, I eat too much, I gamble too much. Hey that’s me.”

Joseph Gannascoli is a “knockaround” guy.

Someone you can hang out with, down a few drinks and smoke a cigar with kind of guy; a “Goodfella” without the actual ties to organized crime. Best known for his portrayal of the closeted gangster Vito Spatafore on the epic HBO series, The Sopranos, Joe’s professional life actually kicked off as a self-taught cook.

“I kicked around couple of restaurants in Manhattan. Then when I was young, I was 21, I went to New Orleans for about 3 years. Then I came back and ... Read more >>

Full Story: http://blendabout.tumblr.com/post/47549278733/brunch-week-chef-joseph-gannascoli

Fabio Viviani on His Latest Ventures & His Favorite Brunch Spot

Chef Fabio Viviani is a busy man.

“I work 130 hours a week. I’m up at 6am each day and I’m never in bed until midnight. I work sixty hours just in the mornings.”

With three restaurants, a new cookbook, and all the television and in-person appearances, one would be surprised if he didn’t work all those hours. Because for Fabio, being awake means working, and he’s loving every minute of it.

We were first introduced to Fabio through season 5 of Bravo TV’s Top Chef, where his charming accent and larger than life personality won him “Fan Favorite.” Since then he’s opened Siena Tavern in Chicago, developed an award-winning Yahoo TV show “Chow Ciao,” and wrote a cookbook that sold 17 thousand copies in less than 10 ...

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