Carlo Middione

Carlo is a renowned Chef and an author of cookbooks, but thinks of himself most importantly as a teacher. 

Hailed as an authority on authentic Italian cooking, Carlo is chef/owner of VIVANDE Porta Via on Fillmore St in San Francisco, where he introduced  the European concept of prepared take out food to San Francisco in 1981.  His book, The Food of Southern Italy, won the coveted Tastemaker award (now the James Beard award)  in 1987. Another book, La Vera Cucina, featuring exceptional, lesser known dishes from all over Italy, was published in 1996.

Carlo was solo host of a  popular TV show, Carlo Cooks Italian, first aired on The Learning Channel in 1994, and then  shown for more than two years on BAY-TV in San Francisco, beginning in 1996. In the late 1970s, Carlo appeared as a “regular” for three years on SF’s Channel 7 morning show with Jack Hansen and Nancy Fleming.  He was also featured regularly as stand-in for host Narsai David on the popular KCBS radio show featuring food news and call-in discussions about food and cooking. 

Carlo was born in Buffalo, New York, to Sicilian immigrant parents whose family members on both sides were restauranteurs and innkeepers in Italy for generations. He received his cooking training in the European tradition–as apprentice to his parents.

Join us for a delightful evening with this warm and charming teacher, described by the press as a “dedicated”  chef committed to preserving the taste, texture, and freshness of ingredients in the honest cooking of authentic Italian tradition.