The Restaurant Guys
Mark Pascal and Francis Schott are The Restaurant Guys! The two have been best friends and restaurateurs for over 30 years. They started The Restaurant Guys Radio Show and Podcast in 2005 and have hosted some of the most interesting and important people in the food and beverage world. After a 10 year hiatus they have returned! Each week they post a brand new episode and a Vintage Selection from the archives. Join them for great conversations about food, wine and the finer things in life.
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The Restaurant Guys
Rocco DiSpirito on The Restaurant Guys LIVE!
The Conversation
The Restaurant Guys are thrilled to host chef Rocco DiSpirito on stage for their inaugural LIVE show. Rocco talks about family legacy, Tournament of Champions, and shares some secret ingredients to elevate weeknight meals.
The Inside Track
The Guys got acquainted with Rocco’s cooking back in the ‘90s when he cooked them one of the greatest meals of their lives at Union Pacific.
”Art is when craft and point of view intersect. You have to have a point of view to become an artist. When you can elevate your craft plus a point of view into something that you remember 30 years later, that's a pretty good life moment,” Rocco DiSpirito on The Restaurant Guys LIVE! 2025
Bio
Rocco DiSpirito is an Italian-American chef, television personality, and author of 15 cookbooks. At the age of sixteen Rocco began his formal studies at the Culinary Institute of America and trained in Europe. He returned to the states to work at Lespinasse; the restaurant received four stars from the New York Times.
At 31, Rocco subsequently opened two Manhattan restaurants. Union Pacific was the first, and shot Rocco to fame. He also opened Rocco’s which was the subject of a reality series called “The Restaurant”, featuring his mother Nicolina making her famous meatballs.
He has appeared on Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and was the first chef to compete on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.
Rocco is frequently on Food Network’s Chopped, Guy’s Grocery Games, Beat Bobby Flay and now Tournament of Champions.
He is the author of 15 cookbooks including three New York Times bestsellers. He received the James Beard Award for his first cookbook, Flavor.
Info
Rocco’s books
https://www.roccodispirito.com/cookbooks
Tournament of Champions on Food Network
See The Restaurant Guys LIVE with Chef Alex Guarnaschelli at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center on Monday, May 12! VIP tickets include an After-Party with Alex! Become a Restaurant Guys Regular for a discount https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/subscribe Tickets https://www.restaurantguyspodcast.com/rglivealexguarnaschelli
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