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Viareggio Ristorante Italiano |
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Viareggio Chef Owner Alberto Tapia In 1996 his culinary ingenuity earned Felidia Restaurant the nomination for the “Best Chef: New York City” Award For Culinary Excellence from the prestigious James Beard Foundation. Chef Tapia's culinary education includes training at the French Culinary Institute in New York as well as culinary courses in Italy. Chef Tapia has been a guest lecturer for Culinary Education programs at Cornell University School of Hotel Administration in New York as well as the William F. Harrah College of Food and Beverage Management at UNLV. Viareggio Ristorante Italiano recalls the beautiful Tuscan resort town where Chef Tapia's love of things culinary first began. After growing up in Sicily, Chef Tapia moved north to the Tuscan Riviera. It was in Viareggio that he found his life's calling preparing and serving fine food. After years of training as a chef in Tuscan resort eateries, Chef Tapia immigrated from Viareggio to New York. With little command of English and unable to communicate his wealth of experience and abilities, he began his culinary career in America as a dishwasher. That didn't last long. Within six months his knowledge and talent had come to the attention of supervisors and he In 1985 Chef Tapia's culinary artistry came to the attention of "America's best loved Italian chef" Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, owner of New York’s famous Felidia Ristorante and star of the Public Television cooking series "Lidia's Family Table". Chef Tapia quickly became the Chef de Cuisine at her internationally acclaimed Restaurant and it was often his culinary creations that were featured on the television program. During his years at Felidia, Chef Tapia also collaborated with "Miss Lidia" in promoting her culinary empire worlwide, travelling to teach gastronomic classes about Italian food and wine and introducing connoisseurs to fine wines from the families own Tuscan vineyards. "Lidia's Family Table" can still be viewed on Vegas PBS Channel 10. Her magazine, "Lidia: Italy At Home" is available at local bookstores. Chef Tapia original recipes still featured on LidiasItaly.com include: Farfelle with Sausage and Leek Sauce, Pappardelle with fresh porcini mushrooms, and Rigatoni Alla Boscaiola. In 1997 Chef Tapia relocated to Las Vegas to become Executive Chef at Terraza, the Tuscan eatery at Caesars Palace. At Terazza he wowed diners with his delightful culinary creations, garnering a glowing review from Muriel Stevens in her Las Vegas Sun dining column. Chef Tapia remained at Caesar’s for six years before being wooed away to the Monte Carlo to serve as Executive Chef. In 2006, after three decades in the culinary trade, Chef Tapia came to a decision. “If I am going to work 14 hours a day for someone else, I’ll work 24 hours a day in my own restaurant. And be happier to do it!.” Viareggio was born, founded upon Chef Tapia’s passion for innovative preparation, pleasing presentation and excellent service. In his eyes, the diners satisfaction is his highest reward. When not cooking, Chef Tapia can usually be found kicking. You heard that right. When not cooking, Chef Tapia becomes Master Tapia, teaching Martial Arts to community youths at his own Martial Arts Academy. Concurrent with the rise to mastery of his culinary trade Chef Tapia has managed to devote equal energy to the mastery of his other life-long passion, the Martial Arts. Viareggio’s Master Chef he is also a Master Martial Artist, holding a 6th degree Black Belt in both the Korean Martial Arts of Taekwondo and Hapkido. “I have two passions in life, cooking and Martial Arts.” He laughs, “ Cooking and kicking. That’s what I love to do.” As a competitive Olympic Taekwondo athlete, Chef Tapia won the European Taekwondo Championship in 1988 as well as two US National Taekwondo Championships, once in 1992 and again in 2002. Chef Tapia doesn’t just teach Martial Arts. He lives them. When he leaves the dojang and heads for the restaurant, he brings the tenets of his Martial Art with him. Respect, concern for others, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit are all part and parcel of who he is and how he goes about his business. Always a believer in "giving back" and working to make a difference in our community, Chef Tapia supports the Andre Agassi charity as well as volunteering his own time to teach community Taekwondo classes at the Sahara West library. Viareggio also supports the Nevada Youth Olympic Taekwondo League and Team Nevada Taekwondo, the team of amateur athletes who represent Nevada in National and International competition.
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