Dante Boccuzzi is an American Michelin Star chef and restaurateur.
Early career
Boccuzzi attended high school at Cuyahoga Christian Academy in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Graduated in 1989. Boccuzzi received an AOS degree in culinary arts in 1991 from The Culinary Institute of America.[1]
Upon completing cooking school Boccuzzi worked at Aureole New York under Charlie Palmer in 1991- 1995.[2] European training included working at London’s famed L’Escargot under chefs Gary Hollihead and David Cavalier in 1993-1994.[3] Six months of training at Les Muscadin in Mougin France.
Working in Italy included L’Albereta in Erbusco under Michelin starred chef Gualtiero Marchesi and Aqua Marina in Sardegnia under Chef Antonello Colonna in 1995.[4]
Boccuzzi was part of the opening team at Lespinasse in Washington D.C. under chef Gray Kunz from 1996-1997.[5]
After working abroad, Boccuzzi returned to the states to head the kitchen at Silks at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel.[2] While chef de cuisine Boccuzzi was nominated by The James Beard Foundation for Rising Star Chef, two years consecutively 1998 and 1999.[6]
Boccuzzi headed back to Italy to become the chef for Armani/Nobu working directly with fashion designer Giorgio Armani from 2000 – 2002.
Boccuzzi received a Michelin Star while working as executive chef of Charlie Palmer’s Aureole in New York city from 2002 - 2007.[3]
Restaurant career
In 2010, Boccuzzi opened his restaurant, DANTE, in Tremont, Cleveland, which offers Modern American Cuisine. The following year, he opened Ginko, a sushi restaurant located beneath DANTE.[2] In 2012, Boccuzzi opened D.C. Pasta Co., an Italian trattoria in Strongsville, Ohio, and a second restaurant under his name, DBA (Dante Boccuzzi Akron), in Akron, Ohio.[7] Later that year, he was nominated for The Next Generation Culinary Master Competition by Robb Report magazine.[8]
In 2014, Boccuzzi opened DANTE Next Door, a restaurant offering traditional Italian cuisine.[9] He also participated in Season 4 of Guy’s Grocery Games.[10] In 2015, he opened Coda, a live music venue.[11]
In 2016, Boccuzzi opened Dante’s Inferno at Progressive Field and Northside Speakeasy, a craft cocktail bar located in the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in downtown Akron.[12] In 2017, Boccuzzi opened a second location of Dante’s Inferno in the recently renovated Flats East Bank near downtown Cleveland.[13]
In July 2021 Boccuzzi opened Goma by Dante on East 4th street downtown Cleveland.[14] Goma is Boccuzzi's second sushi restaurant location. In May 2023, Boccuzzi opened Dukes ‘n Boots in downtown Willoughby, Ohio.[15]
Personal life
Boccuzzi is father to Francis, Andrea, Julien and Isabella. Boccuzzi lives in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife Simone and her two girls Aurora and Evangeline.[16]
Restaurants
Active
Dante Restaurant (2010 to Present)
Ginko Restaurant (2011 to Present)
D.B.A. (2011 to Present)
Dante Next Door. (2014 to Present)
Coda Music Venue. (2015 to Present)
Northside Speakeasy. (2016 to Present)
Dante’s Inferno at Progressive Field. (2016 to Present)
