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

https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/tournament-of-champions

The Restaurant Guys will be at Southern Smoke Festival on Oct 4 in Houston https://southernsmoke.org/festival/ssf-2025/

And the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston Nov 14-16  https://foodandwineclassicincharleston.com/

Our Sponsors
The Heldrich Hotel & Conference Center
https://www.theheldrich.com/

Magyar Bank
https://www.magbank.com/

Withum Accounting
https://www.withum.com/

Our Places
Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Reach Out to The Guys!
TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com