About

My Food Life
1967 – Born in Bologna Italy at 7.7 pounds. Early childhood through the 70’s – Favorite Restaurants – Casa Rossi (Narragansett). – York Steakhouse (Warwick Mall) – Newport Creamery (All of Them) – Burger Chef (North Providence) and Jo Marzilli’s Old Canteen (Federal Hill, Providence).

Chef Nick Iannuccilli

1981 – First Restaurant Job – Georges of Galilee (Dishwasher)

1982-1985 – Various Restaurant Summer Jobs – The Original Light House Inn (On the Point of Judith) – The Galilee Beach Club – PJ’s Pizza – Domino’s in Westerly.

1986-1987 – Attended Tulane University, Lived in New Orleans. Love the Creol Cajun Food. Spent too much time on Bourbon Street (Pat O’Brians) – Returned back to Rhode Island.

Late 1988-1989 – Sold knife sets door to door while attending URI. After the sh*ty knife job, I landed a job working for Al Olerio’s bakery in Narragansett. I loved working there.

1989-1990 – Attended L’univerrsita Per Stranieri in Perugia Italy. Traveled around Italy with my girlfriend “Big Mangia”. My Rigatoni Norchina comes from Ristoranté Cavour in Perugia. My grilled turkey (Tacchino Perugia) comes from a little trattoria in Piazza Forto Braccio. My Ravioli Pugno comes from Sant’ Andrea delle Fratte where the Perugina Chocolate Factory is. I gained a few pounds.

TV Maitre d’ Television Show with Joe Zito featuring Iannuccili Cranston.

Early 1990-1992 – Worked a Chilli’s in Providence on the Taco/Fry line where I met my wife Betty (Super Hot Waitress). After Chilli’s I worked as a waiter at Pasta Pronto in North Providence (Now Infornello). I became friendly with the talented crazy chef René. After Pasta Pronto, I ran the kitchen at The Italo/American Club of Narragansett.

June 1992 – I opened The Florentine Grille at 2 Greenville Avenue on the Providence/Johnston line. On Saturday October 3’rd 1992 I cooked for Frank Sinatra and Shirley McLaine in the dressing room at the Providence Civic Center.

In June of 1994 the Florentine Grille relocated to 1195 Douglas Avenue in North Providence (The Old Oat’s Tavern / Steak and Brew/Brass Rail/Stixx location).

In May 1996 The Florentine Grille cooked for Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, The President of Italy at the Rhode Island State House.

1998 – I Bought the Old Venice Restaurant in Warren, Rhode Island and rebuilt it into the Tuscasn Tavern and then sold after 3 years.

1997-2000 – Private Caterer for Congressman Patrick Kennedy. Florentine Grille was in operation until February of 2006.

May 2008 – Rodizo Steakhouse opened in the old Florentine Grille location. The Brazilian Churrascaria concept operated for approximately 4 years.

Fall 2010 – I opened the Italo American Grille in the Douglas Avenue location.

Spring 2013 – Moved to Florida

2018 – Moved back to Rhode Island

2019 – Opened Iannuccilli

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