Chef Carla Pellegrino

My name is Carla Pellegrino, I was born in Rio de Janeiro to a Portuguese father and a second-generation Italian mother. As early as age 10, I was cooking daily for my family and helping to run my mother's catering business, which educated me in Brazilian, Italian and Portuguese cuisine. At age 16, I moved to Liguria, Italy, and soon I owned a small store where my passion for cooking inspired me to conduct cooking demonstrations on a daily basis. In 1997, I traveled to the United States, where and here I attended the French Culinary Institute in NYC, and in 2000, graduated with honor

In the same year along with my ex-husband, Frank Pellegrino Jr, I opened and successfully established Baldoria Restaurant on 8th Avenue and Broadway; in 2006, I led the culinary team as the executive chef to open Rao’s Las Vegas. Then, I took the ten (10) original recipes from the legendary East Harlem's Italian restaurant, added her own traditional North Italian cuisine, and built a high-volume menu concept.

Followed by other successful concepts such as Bratalian, Bacio by Carla, Meatball Spot, and Touche Miami

I have been featured on Top Chef 10, "CHEFS & COMPANY' cookbook which featured the best 75 top Chefs USA Chefs by Maria Isabella (Buon Appetit tester) in Oct 2019, Today Show, CBS Morning Show, Fox News National, Throwdown with Bobby Flay, Christmas Special (which she won), Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Beat Bobby Flay and multiple other national and local news outlets. Internationally featured in Dubai's cookbook "LEGACY, San Marzano the Finest Chef Crushing it!" by Flavel Monteiro