About us:

Chef Gaetano Ascione is a native of Naples, Italy and his culinary career began when he was awarded a Master’s Degree in Hotel Training from Istituto Alberghiero di Stato in Salerno, Italy. He began working as Chef de Partie in Italy, Germany, the UK, and the Bahamas and is fluent in five languages—Italian, English, Spanish, German and French. He has worked at two Two-Star Michelin Restaurants in Cannes-France: the Belle Otero at The Carlton-Hotel under Chef Francis Chaveau, and the Palm D‘or at the Hotel Martinez under Chef Christian Willer. Most recently, he was chef/owner of two upscale Italian restaurants in Singapore: Gaetano Restaurant & Petrus Wine Bar, and La Stella Restaurant & Life and an upscale Italian restaurant in Coral Gables, Florida called Gaetano's. Some of Chef Gaetano's career highlights include serving two U.S. Presidents, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, as Chef de Cuisine at the Georgetown Club in Washington DC. He also served as Executive Chef for the Inaugural Banquet for President Nelson Mandela in Pretoria, South Africa.

Hamid Benna brings 25 years in the hospitality business to Gioco as General Manager. He has worked with great chefs in a career that began in San Francisco, with Jermiah Tower at Stars, Wolfgang Puck at Postrio, Bruce Hill at Oritalia and John Caputo at Socca. In the 90s, he moved to New York City where he worked with Keith McNally at Balthazar, Terence Brennan at Picholine, Scott Brian at Veritas and Marcus Samuellson at Aquavit.

"Make people feel at home when they’re not at home, going out to dinner to experience something new in a welcoming, comfortable setting - that's all".