Joe Beato, Certified Executive Chef, is a native of Bari, Italy, and a graduate of the culinary school in Lausanne, Switzerland. He immigrated to the United States via Canada. He worked at various restaurants and clubs and has extensive experience in health care food service. He was a member of the Michigan Culinary Team and competed in the 1988 Culinary Olympics, winning a Gold Medal with distinction. In 1990, he opened Il Centro in Detroit, and contemplating retirement, sold it in 2000. With encouragement from his nephew, Joey Beato, he is back as restaurateur and mentor to a talented team of Chefs. According to Chef Beato, "I’ve always said I’m not different, but my food is. I let the food do the talking. My goal is to have a layering of flavors in every dish."