Rocco DiSpirito

Celebrated Chef Rocco DiSpirito is the author of six highly acclaimed cookbooks, including the # 1 New York Times best sellers Now Eat This Diet! and Now Eat This!

Rocco first gained widespread acclaim after opening his multi-starred New York City restaurant Union Pacific.He was the first chef to grace the cover of Gourmet magazine as “America’s Most Exciting Young Chef,” and was voted America’s “Best New Chef,” by Food & Wine magazine. In her 3 star review, the venerable New York Times Restaurant Critic Ruth Reichl said: “in less capable hands, mad delusions, in DiSpirito’s hands, pure genius.” Additionally, Rocco’s culinary skills have earned him several significant awards, including the cherished James Beard Award for his first cookbook, Flavor.

Rocco is a native New Yorker who learned his early culinary skills in his Italian Mother’s kitchen. Rocco is a graduate of both the prestigious Culinary Institute of America and Boston University. Over the last 25 years working in the United States and abroad Rocco developed his unique sense of flavor that is distinguished by his unique combinations of ingredients.

In addition to his classical chef training, Rocco has starred in the Food Network series, Melting Pot, the NBC hit reality series The Restaurant, and the A&E series, Rocco Gets Real. Rocco’s Dinner Party, will debut June 2011 on Bravo. Additionally, he is a frequent guest on The Rachel Ray Show, Good Morning America, and The Dr. Oz Show.Rocco has also appeared on The Tonight Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Late Night with David Letterman, Regis and Kelly, The View, The Today Show, Ellen , Jimmy Kimmel, Chelsea Lately, competed on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and was the guest chef on NBC’s The Biggest Loser for multiple seasons.

Rocco has been featured in hundreds of national magazine articles and is a current member of the Fitness Magazine advisory board as well as a regular contributor to Runner’s World.In 2003 he was named the “Sexiest Chef Alive” by People magazine.

An avid triathlete and an advocate of healthy living, Rocco, is a spokesperson for Feeding America, Food Bank and Dr. Oz’ Healthcorps. Rocco believes healthy and delicious are no longer mutually exclusive. You can contact Rocco at www.roccodispirito.com and twitter.com/roccodispirito.