Fabio Trabocchi
{{Short description|Italian chef and restaurateur}}
Fabio Trabocchi is an Italian chef and restaurateur based in Washington, D.C., where his restaurant Fiola earned a Michelin Star. Before opening his own restaurants, Trabocchi ran kitchens in London, Virginia, and New York, winning a James Beard Foundation Award in 2006.
Early years (1974–1997)
Trabocchi was born in 1974 in Osimo, in the Marche region of Italy.{{cite news |last1=Abdelnour |first1=Salma |title=America's Best New Chefs 2002 |url=https://www.foodandwine.com/articles/americas-best-new-chefs-2002 |work=Food & Wine Magazine |date=July 1, 2002}} He studied at the Istituto Alberghiero Panzini in Senigallia, working as a pastry chef in the summers. He then earned an apprenticeship with Gualtiero Marchesi at his eponymous restaurant in Milan.{{cite news |last1=Weinraub |first1=Judith |date=May 5, 2004 |title=Fabio Trabocchi Has His Own Way of Looking at Italian Food |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/food/2004/05/05/fabio-trabocchi-has-his-own-way-of-looking-at-italian-food/b839c5ba-efc3-4e2b-9660-3b90c1ec0347/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{cite news |title=Floriana |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/restaurants/floriana-7431741.html |work=London Evening Standard |date=6 October 1998}}
Trabocchi then worked in Moscow and in the United States at BiCE Ristorante in New York and in Washington, D.C. He moved to Spain to open a BiCE restaurant in Marbella and then to London.
Floriana, Maestro, and Fiamma (1998–2010)
Trabocchi won a Carlton London Restaurant Award as Best Young Chef of 1999 while working at Floriana in Knightsbridge, London.{{cite magazine |last1=Sekules |first1=Kate |title=Postcards from the Edge: New Maestro in Town |url=https://www.foodandwine.com/articles/postcards-from-the-edge |magazine=Food & Wine |date=May 1, 2001}}
He was recruited back to the United States in 2001 by the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner, Virginia, to open a new restaurant called Maestro.{{cite news |title=Maestro creates dishes that are a feast for the eye |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2001/aug/23/20010823-024933-1130r/ |work=The Washington Times |date=August 23, 2001}} Maestro's menu featured two takes on Italian cuisine: La Tradizione, Trabocchi's version of traditional regional Italian dishes updated with high-quality products; and L'Evoluzione, Trabocchi's very modern interpretation of Italian cooking. In 2002, Trabocchi was recognized as one of America's best new chefs by Food & Wine magazine. In 2005, Trabocchi was named chef of the year by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.{{cite news |last1=Havemann |first1=Judith M. |title=Maestro Wins Two Rammys |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/food/2005/06/08/maestro-wins-two-rammys/117bc0b2-78fb-47b8-b67d-ca9216cc8831/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 8, 2005}} He was nominated for several James Beard Awards, finally winning Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic, in 2006.{{Cite web|title=Fabio Trabocchi - James Beard Foundation|url=https://www.jamesbeard.org/chef/fabio-trabocchi}}{{cite news |last1=Nicholls |first1=Walter |title=James Beard Award for Chef Trabocchi |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/09/AR2006050900363.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 10, 2006}}
In 2007, Trabocchi moved to New York City, succeeding Michael White at Fiamma.{{cite news |last1=Bruni |first1=Frank |title=Rewritten, in a Language of Its Own |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/dining/reviews/28rest.html |work=The New York Times |date=November 28, 2007}} While he was the chef, Fiamma earned three stars from the New York Times{{'}}s food critic Frank Bruni, and a Michelin star in the 2009 Michelin Guide.{{cite news |last1=Spartos |first1=Carla |title=One toque over the line |url=https://nypost.com/2010/01/24/one-toque-over-the-line/ |work=New York Post |date=January 24, 2010}} After a sharp downturn in business due to the 2008 financial crisis, Fiamma abruptly closed.{{cite news |last1=Bruni |first1=Frank |title=Fabio Trabocchi on Fiamma's Closing |url=https://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/fabio-trabocchi-on-fiammas-closing/ |work=The New York Times |date=January 14, 2009}} Trabocchi was named the executive chef of The Four Seasons Restaurant in 2010, but left after a few months.
Trabocchi competed on Iron Chef America in 2009.{{cite web |title=Iron Chef America: Symon vs. Trabocchi |url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/iron-chef-america/episodes/symon-vs-trabocchi |website=Food Network |date=February 15, 2009}}
Fiola and restaurant group (2011–present)
Trabocchi returned to Washington, D.C. to open Fiola in 2011, in the same space in Penn Quarter where he had been a chef at BiCE.{{cite news |last1=Sietsema |first1=Tom |title=Fabio Trabocchi to open Fiola in spring 2011 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/12/AR2010101202677.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 12, 2010}} Fiola opened to mixed reviews, but soon earned its place among the city's best restaurants.{{cite news |last1=Sietsema |first1=Tom |title=After some missteps, Fiola finds its footing |work=The Washington Post Magazine |date=March 18, 2012 |page=27}} It won Best New Restaurant at the 2012 Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMMY) Awards.{{cite news |last1=Voelker |first1=Jessica |title=Here's the List of Restaurants That Won 2012 RAMMY Awards |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2012/06/25/heres-the-list-of-restaurants-who-won-2012-rammy-awards/ |work=Washingtonian Magazine |date=June 25, 2012}} Bon Appétit magazine named it one of the 50 best new restaurants in America.{{cite news |last1=Knowlton |first1=Andrew |title=Top 50 Best New Restaurants of 2012 |url=https://www.bonappetit.com/restaurants-travel/best-new-restaurants/slideshow/top-50-best-new-restaurants-2012 |work=Bon Appétit |date=August 28, 2012}} In 2014, Fiola won the RAMMY Award for Best Formal Dining Restaurant.{{cite news |last1=Spiegel |first1=Anna |title=2014 RAMMY Award Winners Announced |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2014/06/23/2014-rammy-award-winners-announced/ |work=Washingtonian Magazine |date=June 23, 2014}} In the inaugural Michelin Guide for Washington, D.C., Fiola received one Michelin star.{{Cite web|title=Fiola - Washington - a Michelin Guide Restaurant|url=https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/district-of-columbia/washington-dc/restaurant/fiola}}{{cite news |last1=Sidman |first1=Jessica |title=12 DC Restaurants Earn Michelin Stars |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/10/13/12-dc-restaurants-earn-michelin-stars/ |work=Washingtonian Magazine |date=October 13, 2016}}
The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington again honored Trabocchi as the Chef of the Year in 2013.{{cite news |last1=Voelker |first1=Jessica |title=Fabio Trabocchi, Ashok Bajaj Take Top Awards at 2013 RAMMYS |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2013/06/24/estadio-ashok-bajaj-win-big-at-2013-rammys/ |work=Washingtonian Magazine |date=June 24, 2013}} That year, he opened Casa Luca, a more casual restaurant named after his son.{{cite news |last1=Carman |first1=Tim |title=An early look at Fabio Trabocchi's Casa Luca |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/going-out-guide/wp/2013/07/03/an-early-look-at-fabio-trabocchis-casa-luca/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 3, 2013}}
In 2014, Trabocchi opened Fiola Mare, a {{convert|7500|sqft|adj=on}} restaurant focused on Italian seafood, at Washington Harbour on the Georgetown waterfront.{{cite news |last1=Nicholls |first1=Walter |title=Fabio Trabocchi's Fiola Mare |url=https://georgetowner.com/articles/2014/04/11/fabio-trabocchis-fiola-mare/ |work=The Georgetowner |date=April 11, 2014}} Michelle Obama, Susan Rice and Steven Tyler were spotted in the restaurant.{{cite news |last1=Joynt |first1=Carol Ross |title=Spotted: Michelle Obama and Valerie Jarrett Dine at Fiola Mare |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2014/04/02/spotted-michelle-obama-and-valerie-jarrett-dine-at-fiola-mare/ |work=Washingtonian Magazine |date=April 2, 2014}} President Barack Obama and his family dined there in August 2014.{{cite news |last1=Andrews-Dyer |first1=Helena |title=The Obama family enjoys a night out at Fiola Mare |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2014/08/07/the-obama-family-enjoys-a-night-out-at-fiola-mare/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 7, 2014}} In 2015, Fiola Mare won the RAMMY Award for Best New Restaurant.{{cite news |last1=Byrnes |first1=Kelly |title=Georgetown Gets Its Due: Fiola Mare Named 'New Restaurant of the Year' Among Other Rammys |url=https://georgetowner.com/articles/2015/06/22/georgetown-gets-its-due-fiola-mare-named-best-new-restaurant-among-other-rammys/ |work=The Georgetowner |date=June 22, 2015}} Washingtonian Magazine named Fabio its 2015 Restaurateur of the Year.{{cite news |last1=Spiegel |first1=Anna |title=2015 Restaurateurs of the Year: Fabio and Maria Trabocchi |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2015/01/12/2015-restaurateurs-of-the-year-fabio-and-maria-trabocchi/ |work=Washingtonian Magazine |date=January 12, 2015}} President Joe Biden and his wife Jill dined there in October 2021.{{Cite news|title=The Bidens' Fiola Mare Dinner Date Shows They're Still Creatures of Habit| newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2021/10/18/bidens-dinner-date-fiola-mare/}}
In 2016, Trabocchi opened Sfoglina, a casual pasta house in the Van Ness neighborhood of Washington, D.C.{{cite news |last1=Nania |first1=Rachel |title=Award-winning chef to open DC 'pasta house' |url=https://wtop.com/food-restaurant/2016/11/award-winning-chef-open-dc-pasta-house/ |publisher=WTOP |date=November 30, 2016}} Another Sfoglina opened in October 2019 in Rosslyn, Virginia.{{cite web |last1=Koma |first1=Alex |title=Second Location of Fabio Trabocchi Restaurant Sfoglina to Open in Rosslyn |url=https://www.arlnow.com/2018/05/10/second-location-of-d-c-pasta-restaurant-sfoglina-to-open-in-rosslyn/ |website=ARLnow.com |date=May 10, 2018}} In 2018, Casa Luca was renovated and re-branded as a branch of Sfoglina.{{cite web |last1=Plumb |first1=Tierney |title=Casa Luca Downtown Will Become Its Upscale Sister Restaurant Sfoglina |url=https://dc.eater.com/2018/8/6/17656028/casa-luca-sfoglina-shutter-downtown |website=Eater DC |date=Aug 6, 2018}}
In 2017, Trabocchi opened Del Mar, a fine-dining restaurant focused on Spanish coastal cuisine, at The Wharf, a new development on Washington's Southwest Waterfront.{{cite news |last1=Spiegel |first1=Anna |title=Chef Fabio Trabocchi's New Waterfront Spanish Restaurant Is Super Luxe |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2017/10/23/fiola-mare-chef-fabio-trabocchi-new-wharf-spanish-restaurant-del-mar-open/ |work=Washingtonian Magazine |date=October 23, 2017}} The 240-seat restaurant features a bi-level nautical-themed space with an open kitchen, towering ceilings, large windows overlooking the water and hand-painted forest green tiled walls.{{cite news |last1=Vora |first1=Shivani |title=Can an Italian Chef's Success in D.C. Translate Into Spanish? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/12/travel/del-mar-restaurant-washington-dc-review.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 12, 2018}} The Washington Post
Trabocchi opened Fiola Miami in November 2018.{{cite news |last1=Fagenson |first1=Zachary |title=Fiola Is the Third Restaurant With Michelin Bona Fides to Open in Miami This Year |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/restaurants/restaurant-review-fiola-miami-in-coral-gables-10947855 |work=Miami New Times |date=December 11, 2018}} In April 2019, Trabocchi opened Fiola at Dopolavoro Venezia in the JW Marriott Hotel in Venice, Italy.{{cite news |author1=Kate Krader |author2=Claire Ballentine |title=The Croiffle Invades Midtown Manhattan Thanks to the Godiva Cafe |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-19/the-croiffle-invades-midtown-manhattan-thanks-to-the-godiva-cafe |work=Bloomberg |date=April 19, 2019 |quote=To the rescue: Michelin-starred Washington restaurateur Fabio Trabocchi, who has just opened Fiola at Dopolavoro Venezia. In the 1920s-styled room in the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, Trabocchi will serve an Italian version of the food that has made Fiola D.C. a favorite}}
Awards
- Best New Chefs, Food & Wine magazine (2002)
- Chef of the Year, Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (2005){{Cite news|title=Maestro Wins Two Rammys| newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/food/2005/06/08/maestro-wins-two-rammys/117bc0b2-78fb-47b8-b67d-ca9216cc8831/}}
- Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic, James Beard Foundation (2006)
- Michelin Star, Fiamma (2009)
- Restaurateur of the Year, Washingtonian Magazine (2015)
- Michelin Star, Fiola (2017–2023)
- Bib Gourmand, Sfoglina{{Cite web |title=Sfoglina – Washington - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant |url=https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/district-of-columbia/washington-dc/restaurant/sfoglina |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=MICHELIN Guide |language=en-US}}
Publications
- {{Cite book |last=Trabocchi |first=Fabio |title=Cucina of Le Marche: A Chef's Treasury of Recipes from Italy's Last Culinary Frontier |date=17 October 2006 |publisher=Ecco |isbn=978-0060741624}}
Personal life
Fabio Trabocchi opened Fiola in Washington, D.C., in 2011, and later opened Fiola Mare, Del Mar, and Sfoglina Pasta Houses. He has two children, Alice and Luca from his first marriage with Maria whom he divorced in 2019 after 19 years of marriage.{{Cite news |last=Heil |first=Emily |date=2019-12-03 |title=Fabio and Maria Trabocchi — the couple behind a D.C. dining empire — have divorced |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/fabio-and-maria-trabocchi--the-couple-behind-a-dc-dining-empire--have-divorced/2019/12/03/5c4f49a6-15f4-11ea-a659-7d69641c6ff7_story.html |access-date=2024-04-12 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} Fabio has since remarried and has one son, Leonardo, with his current wife, Kara Cameron Trabocchi Kara Cameron Trabocchi They live between Washington DC and Boca Raton, FL.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.fabiotrabocchi.com/ FabioTrabocchi.com]
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Category:Italian restaurateurs
Category:Head chefs of Michelin-starred restaurants