Fabio Viviani, the Top Chef fan favorite and the brains behind some of Chicago's hottest culinary destinations like Bar Siena, Prime & Provisions and Siena Tavern, obvioulsy has a lot of thoughts on food and cooking.
We spoke to the famous restauranteur to get the scoop on his top cooking tips, the most challenging meal he’s ever prepared and to settle the pineapple-on-pizza debate. See it below:
Favorite ingredient to cook with? Butter.
Signature dish? Roasted chicken.
Sweet or Savory? Savory, but sometimes you need sweet.
Pasta or Pizza? Pasta.
Best cooking tip you have ever received? "Do it right or do it twice!"
Favorite cuisine outside of Italian? Spanish.
Most challenging dish you have ever cooked? F****** alligator. Hate it, taste like chicken, cooks like a shoe.
Favorite food city in the world? Barcelona.
Top three essential ingredients in Italian cooking? Eggs, olive oil, parmesan cheese.
Favorite type of pasta? Stuffed!
Pineapple on a pizza, yes or no? No, terrible idea.
Must-have spice in your pantry? Chili flakes.
One ingredient you can't stand? Cilantro, ugh, devil's lettuce.
Favorite comfort food? Pasta, it’s comfort food for me.
Best food memory from your childhood? I baked a cake for the Pope when I was six or seven years old. The story is in my book by the way, it’s a good story.
Favorite Italian Desert? Tiramisu.
Best way to elevate a simple dish? Put parmesan on it.
View this post on Instagram
Photography by: Photo courtesy of DineAmic Hospitality
