10 Things You’ll Want To Know About Chef Francesco Buitoni

By inside + out | February 19, 2024

Chef Francesco Buitoni is a seventh-generation pasta maker (and descendant of the well known Buitoni brand), a two-time James Beard nominee, and founder, chef and owner of Red Hook’s once beloved Mercato Osteria Enoteca which had a successful 12-year run. Now Francesco brings his passionate, artistic approach to his delicious reinvention of Italian culinary classics in his restaurant, GioBatta Alimentari in Tivoli New York.

Here’s what you need to know:

In 1827, Guilia Buitoni sold her heirloom gold pendant to secure a modest shop in the Village of Sansepolcro, Tuscany to make pasta. It was her own recipe for macaroni, using high quality durum wheat, that ultimately became the renowned Buitoni Pasta. With her husband Giovanni Batista – fondly nicknamed GioBatta – they created a household name and indelible brand.

The company expanded steadily through the years under many generations of Buitoni. Francesco Buitoni, great great great great Grandson of Guilia & GioBatta, continues the tradition with Giobatta Alimentari.

INSIDE+OUR UPSTATE NY caught up with Francesco Buitoni about his past, his journey as a chef and some of his favorite things about the Hudson Valley – Read our full Interview HERE

And for a tasty entree, here are 10 (other) Things You’ll Want to Know About Chef Buitoni:

What is your Favorite Restaurant?
Osaka Sushi

Go-to Coffee Shop or Bakery?
Tivoli General

Favorite Local view?
Clermont State Park

Favorite local Activity?
Tivoli Street Painting Day

A favorite activity for “me” time?
I love to go for long walks

What are you reading?
Always reading Cookbooks!

What are you watching?
The Bear, loved it!

Listening to?
Music, all genres

Last home-cooked meal you made?
Grilled branzino with salmoriglio sauce, Caesar salad, sautéed local squash & onions

If you could have one superpower what would it be?
Reverse all environmental wrongdoings!
Kind of like when Superman flew around the earth in reverse to go back in time and bring Jane back to life.