Nick Stellino

Nick Stellino’s path to his successful career as a television chef and cookbook author began in Italy, where he grew up in a family of accomplished cooks who shared with him their knowledge and love of cooking.

Nick was born and raised in Palermo, Italy. In 1975, at the age of 17, he moved to America, building a successful career as a stockbroker by the late 1980s. His Wall Street career was lucrative, but he realized something was missing. He had come from a world where food, love and family were deeply intertwined and had developed a passion for cooking at an early age. He decided to pursue a culinary career, believing that “if you do what you love and invest in it your dedication and your passion, you will be successful.”

With no formal experience, Nick was told he couldn’t work as a chef. Instead, he initially took a job as a dishwasher. He went on to apprentice with some of the best chefs in America. While working in the restaurant business, he realized that he wanted to share his enthusiasm for cooking with others and that a television cooking show would be the best way to do that.

Nick began calling television production companies, fully committed to making his dream of a new TV series come true. That commitment led to a career that exceeded his expectations. Today, Nick Stellino has multiple television series to his credit, along with 12 published cookbooks. His cooking shows are seen on public television stations across the United States and are syndicated throughout Latin America, Eastern Europe, South Africa and the Middle East.

Nick has made guest appearances on news and talk shows including ABC’s “Good Morning America,” NBC’s “Today” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” as well as on Italian television. He has been featured in publications including The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Bon Appétit, The Magazine of La Cucina Italiana and Robb Report. Through his marketing and television production company Nick Stellino Productions, Nick provides services as a business strategist and motivational speaker to a variety of clients. Nick Stellino Productions has worked with companies including Electrolux, Sears, Frigidaire, DaVinci Pasta, World Finer Foods, Domino Sugar, C&H Sugar, Sears, Acqua Panna, SanPellegrino and Maurice Lacroix Watches.

Nick is an active supporter of the American Red Cross. Each year, he prepares the menu for the Red Cross annual Red Tie Affair dinner in Santa Monica, Calif. He also spends months raising increasingly large donations for the organization. In 2011, the Red Cross recognized his efforts with the Tiffany Award for Most Humanitarian Chef.

Nick lives with his wife of 34 years, Nanci, and their cats, Luca and Luigi. He spends what little free time he has at their home in Southern California, cooking for Nanci, indulging his love of tailored clothing and, with his Italian passion for storytelling, writing short stories.