RISE ABOVE Media Solutions

Making your mark as a chef is easy when you are Dante Boccuzzi, a culinary master who wins the hearts of everyone with his talent and easy going, generous personality.

Cleveland’s Scene Magazine calls Boccuzzi a “Culinary Scene Stealer,” boasting he “artfully blends cuisines like Italian, French, and Asian.”

The opening of his signature DANTE in the popular Tremont section of Cleveland in January 2010 won instantaneous rave reviews.

All of this from someone who at the age of 14, while going to high school, began his culinary training working in local Cleveland restaurants. In 1991, he graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and began his career at Charlie Palmer’s New York acclaimed restaurant, Aureole. While at Aureole, he gained extensive training under the watchful eye of Charlie Palmer, who encouraged Boccuzzi to further his culinary training abroad. To that advice, Boccuzzi spent three years in Europe working in Italy, France, and England, learning techniques in award-winning restaurants such as London’s L’Escargot, the famed Les Muscadin in Mougins France and the Michelin three-star Gualtiero Marchesi in Brescia, Italy. Boccuzzi also spent time in Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan in his pursuit to explore influential culinary traditions from around the world.

In 1997, Boccuzzi returned to the states to head Silks at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in San Francisco. His three year tenure at Silks resulted in two James Beard nominations for Rising Star Chef of the Year in 1998 and 1999. Following this endeavor, Boccuzzi moved to Milan, Italy to become the executive chef at Nobu/Milan, working directly with Nobu Matsuhisa and Giorgio Armani at the Armani flagship establishment.

In 2002, Boccuzzi returned to Aureole as executive chef, where he was selected by Star Chefs as one of their Rising Stars. Under his leadership, Aureole earned its first Michelin star in 2006.

Boccuzzi’s culinary career has come full circle, returning him to his home state of Ohio where he opened DANTE in 2007, moving the location to the hot restaurant row in Cleveland’s Tremont section in 2010. His dreams continue to become a reality with the opening of Ginko in 2011, a New York Times acclaimed sushi restaurant located in Tremont, featuring a traditional style sushi and a modern Japanese cuisine. The following year, Boccuzzi collaborated with chef Carmela Dl Busso to open DC Pasta Company in Strongsville, Ohio—a family oriented Italian style restaurant focused on Old World authenticity at reasonable prices. Later in 2012, Boccuzzi made yet another splash in Ohio with the opening of his Akron restaurant DBA—Dante Boccuzzi Akron—melding his musical and culinary talents to add a flare of rock n’ roll to his coveted modern American style cuisine.  

In November of 2012, Chef Dante was nominated by Robb Report magazine for The Next Generation Culinary Master Competition.  The competition was made up of five individuals chosen by Culinary Masters from around the Country.

Dante Next Door opened in April of 2014.  The restaurant features traditional Italian cuisine based on Boccuzzi'’s travels throughout Italy, with Neapolitan style pizzas baked in two custom built brick ovens.

Last year, Boccuzzi had the fun opportunity to be a contestant on Guy's Grocery Games.  The show featured fellow James Beard nominees and aired during season four.

Boccuzzi has no intention of slowing down. His newest endeavor, Coda, a live music venue, featuring small plates, local beer and musical acts opened in October.   

For more information on Boccuzzi and the Dante Dining Group, please visit danteboccuzzi.com.

Graduated from the Culinary Institute of America  1991 

Worked under Charlie Palmer, New York,  Aureole  1991-1993 

Porto Cervo, Sardegna "La Vechia Costa" & "Aqua Marina"   1994 

London, UK "L'Escargot"  1994 

Mougin, France "Les Muscadin"  1994 

Erbusco, Italy "L'Albereta"  1994 

Cleveland, Ohio,  Giovanni's Restaurant,  Chef Consultant  1995 

Washington, DC Restaurant - Lespinasse Restaurant    1996 

San Francisco,  Silks at The Mandarin,    Executive Chef     1997-2000 

-Pacific Region Winner for the Cervena Venison Plates Competition 1997 

-Nominated By the James Beard Foundation for Rising Star Chef Award 1998 

-Nominated By the James Beard Foundation for Rising Star Chef Award 1999 

Hong Kong, China  The Mandarin Oriental     1999,  30 day long promotion 

Taipei, Taiwan  Lai Lai Sheraton    1999,   30 day long promotion 

Milan, Italy  Armani/Nobu,  Executive Chef    2000 2002  

-worked directly with Giorgio Armani 

New York, Aureole   Executive Chef     2002-2007 

-received  1 Star from the Michelin Guide  2006 

- Personal Chef for actor Robert De Niro 

Cleveland, Ohio  Opened Signature Restaurant DANTE   2007-2009 

Moved  DANTE location in Tremont Area of Cleveland    2010 

Opened Ginko  -  A Japanese Sushi bar    2011 

Opened The D.C. Pasta Co  -  An Italian Pasta House  2012 

Opened DBA  -  Another location of the Dante concept in Akron Ohio   2012 

-Nominated by Robb Report magazine for The Next Generation Culinary Master Competition.  The competition was made up of five individuals chosen by Culinary Masters from around the Country. 

Opened  Dante Next Door  -  A Casual Italian Lunch and Brunch Place   2014 

Coda  -  A Live Music Venue    2015