Nick Stellino

Nick Stellino was born and raised in Palermo, Italy, and moved to America at the age of 17. In the late 1980s, he left a successful career as a Wall Street stockbroker to pursue his passion for cooking, a passion deeply rooted in his early family life in Italy where food, love, and family were intertwined. Starting with no formal culinary training and initially working as a dishwasher, he quickly ascended the culinary ladder by apprenticing with some of America's top chefs.

Stellino's dedication to sharing his enthusiasm for cooking led him to a prolific career in television. He began his journey in broadcasting by proactively reaching out to television production companies, determined to bring his vision of a cooking show to life. His persistence paid off, leading to multiple successful TV series, including "Cucina Amore I, II, and III," "Nick Stellino's Family Kitchen I, II, III, IV, and V," as well as the PBS specials "Nick Stellino's Dinner Party" and "Nick Stellino: Food, Love & Family." His shows have been syndicated not only across the United States but also in Latin America, Eastern Europe, South Africa, and the Middle East.

Additionally, Stellino is an accomplished author with several cookbooks to his name, including "Cucina Amore," "Nick Stellino's Glorious Italian Cooking," "Nick Stellino's Mediterranean Flavors," "Nick Stellino's Family Kitchen," "Nick Stellino's Passione: Pasta, Pizza, and Panini," and "Mangiomo! Let's Eat!" His work extends beyond the kitchen as he is also a respected motivational speaker, engaging with national clients such as Maurice Lacroix, Sears, and Marriott Hotels & Resorts.

Stellino's contributions to the culinary world have been recognized on numerous occasions. He has made appearances at prestigious food festivals like the Aspen Food & Wine Festival, was the Grand Marshal of San Francisco's 1999 Columbus Day Parade—the first chef to ever receive this honor—and has presented at the James Beard Foundation Awards in 2000 and 2001. His influence has also earned him spots on national platforms such as ABC’s “Good Morning America,” NBC’s “Today,” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Off-screen, Nick Stellino is a supporter of the American Red Cross, contributing not only by preparing the menu for their annual Red Tie Affair dinner in Santa Monica but also through fundraising efforts. In 2011, he was honored with the Tiffany Award for Most Humanitarian Chef by the Red Cross.

Nick resides in Los Angeles with his wife of 34 years, Nanci, and their cats, Luca and Luigi. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking for Nanci, pursuing his interest in tailored clothing, and writing short stories, embodying his Italian passion for storytelling.