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{{Short description|American chef}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rocco DiSpirito
| image = Rocco DiSpirito in July 2008 (2712230904).jpg
| caption = Rocco DiSpirito in 2008
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|11|19}}
| birth_place = [[Queens]], New York, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = [[Culinary Institute of America]]<br />[[Boston University]]
| occupation = [[Chef]], [[author]]
}}
'''Rocco DiSpirito''' (born November 19, 1966) is an American [[chef]] and [[reality television]] personality based in [[New York City]], known for starring in the series ''[[The Restaurant (American TV series)|The Restaurant]]''.
==Early life and education==
DiSpirito was born in [[Queens]], New York. He graduated in 1986 from the [[Culinary Institute of America]] in [[Hyde Park, New York]], and in 1990 from [[Boston University]] with a bachelor's degree in hospitality administration.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rocco DiSpirito {{!}} School of Hospitality Administration |url=https://www.bu.edu/hospitality/profile/rocco-dispirito/ |website=bu.edu}}</ref>
==Career==
DiSpirito is known for his [[Italian Americans|Italian American]] cuisine and his [[fusion cuisine|fusion]] cooking.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/community-blogs/rocco-dispiritos-back-in-the-kitchen|work=[[Vancouver Sun]]|title=Rocco DiSpirito's back in the kitchen|author=Fralic, Shelley|date=September 4, 2011}}</ref>
DiSpirito is known as a [[celebrity chef]] and a [[cookbook]] author. He is known for his involvement in Union Pacific, a restaurant he opened in 1997 in the [[Gramercy Park]] section of [[Manhattan]]. A year later, ''New York Times'' reviewer [[Ruth Reichl]], in a three-star review, reported that a woman at the next table was moaning in ecstasy as she ate. Still, it was impossible to determine what had provoked that reaction since so many dishes were worthy of such a reaction.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/05/dining/restaurants-a-short-trip-from-promising-to-polished.html|title=Restaurants: A Short Trip from Promising to Polished|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Ruth |last=Reichl|date=August 5, 1998|accessdate=May 22, 2010}}</ref> DiSpirito departed Union Pacific in 2004.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fabricant|first1=Florence|last2=Burros|first2=Marian|date=2004-09-29|title=Rocco DiSpirito Is Out at Union Pacific|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/29/dining/rocco-dispirito-is-out-at-union-pacific.html|access-date=2022-01-11|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
From 2003 to 2004, DiSpirito starred in the [[NBC]] [[reality television]] show ''[[The Restaurant (American TV series)|The Restaurant]]'', which followed the launch and operation of a new Manhattan restaurant called Rocco's on 22nd.<ref name=NYDN>{{cite news|last=Peterson|first=Helen|title=TV Eatery's Rocco Gets A Bitter Pill To Swallow|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/tv-eatery-rocco-bitter-pill-swallow-article-1.590606|newspaper=Daily News|date=July 28, 2004}}</ref> The show was canceled, and the restaurant's financier, [[Jeffrey Chodorow]], successfully sued DiSpirito to have the restaurant shut down and DiSpirito banned from entering the premises.<ref name=NYDN/>
DiSpirito succeeded Arthur Schwartz as host of ''Food Talk'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2004/10/16/Rocco-DiSpirito-hosts-Food-Talk-on-radio/UPI-49911097948943/|work=UPI.com Entertainment News|title=Rocco DiSpirito hosts 'Food Talk' on radio|date=October 16, 2004|author=UPI|accessdate=June 26, 2011}}</ref> an hour-long morning talk show on New York Radio [[WOR (AM)]], from October 2004 through December 2005, and then hosted 12 episodes of the TV show ''[[Rocco Gets Real]]'' on [[A&E (TV network)|A&E]] (October 4 through December 27, 2008).<ref name=gordinier>{{cite news|last=Gordinier|first=Jeff|title=Taking Heat for Not Cooking|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 17, 2008|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/dining/17rocc.html}}</ref>
He was featured in a [[Lincoln MKX]] commercial<ref>{{cite web|title=NBA notable, celebrity chef star in new Lincoln ads|author=Pearl, Mitcheal|date=August 4, 2006|url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/entertainment/nba-notable-celebrity-chef-star-in-new-lincoln-ads/67-396170752|publisher=[[WTSP]]}}</ref> and the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[sitcom]] ''[[The Knights of Prosperity]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=The Knights of Prosperity|publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_knights_of_prosperity/s01/e09}}</ref> and was a guest judge on Bravo's ''[[Top Chef]]''.<ref name=NYP>{{cite web|work=[[New York Post]]|url=https://nypost.com/2019/02/13/how-celebrity-chef-rocco-dispirito-made-his-stunning-comeback/|title=How celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito made his stunning comeback|author=Cuozzo, Steve|date=February 13, 2019}}</ref>
DiSpirito returned in the [[Top Chef (season 3)|''Top Chef'']] season three finale (''Top Chef: Miami'') — in which three celebrity chefs were brought to work as sous chefs to the contestants, with DiSpirito assisting [[Hung Huynh]] — and was a guest judge on the March 14, 2008, [[Top Chef (season 4)|''Top Chef'']] season four premiere (''Top Chef: Chicago'').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-4/blogs/rocco-dispirito/a-taste-of-things-to-come|title=A Taste Of Things To Come|date=Mar 12, 2008|publisher=[[Bravo (American TV network)|Bravo]]}}</ref>
He appeared on [[NBC]]'s ''[[The Biggest Loser (season 5)|The Biggest Loser: Couples]]'' (season 5) in an episode that aired on February 5, 2008 (episode 506), in which contestants were challenged to prepare three healthy courses based on DiSpirito's recipes; DiSpirito judged the food and determined the winning team. The following season, he appeared on the second episode (airing September 23, 2008) of ''[[The Biggest Loser (season 6)|The Biggest Loser: Families]]'', taking the "worst" cook of each pair shopping and teaching them to prepare healthy recipes.
DiSpirito was a contestant on season seven of ''[[Dancing with the Stars (American season 7)|Dancing with the Stars]]'' and was paired with professional ballroom dancer [[Karina Smirnoff]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/rocco-karina-spared-dancing-elimination/|title=Rocco & Karina Spared Dancing Elimination|author=People Staff|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=October 8, 2008}}</ref> He was eliminated on the October 14, 2008, episode and placed ninth overall.<ref>{{cite news|last=Barrett|first=Annie|title='Dancing With the Stars' recap: Not so negative campaigning|url=http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/dancing-with-the-stars-recap-season-7-episode-9/|newspaper=Entertainment Weekly|date=October 15, 2012}}</ref>
In 2006, DiSpirito performed a public service announcement for [[DoSomething]] to promote food drives for schools.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQMhJNsQn4E&feature=channel_page | title = Rocco DiSpirito Promotes Food Drives | date = 21 November 2006 | accessdate = 2006-11-21 | publisher = [[Do Something]]}}</ref>
On May 3, 2010, DiSpirito appeared as himself on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television series ''[[Castle (TV series)|Castle]]'' in the episode "Food to Die For."<ref>{{cite news|last=Keller|first=Rich|title=ABC Announces Its May Sweeps Highlights|url=http://www.aoltv.com/2010/05/03/abc-announces-its-may-sweeps-highlights/|website=[[HuffPost]]|date=May 3, 2010|access-date=October 6, 2012|archive-date=April 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416001149/http://www.aoltv.com/2010/05/03/abc-announces-its-may-sweeps-highlights/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On June 15, 2011, DiSpirito debuted as host of a weekly [[reality TV]] cooking competition, ''[[Rocco's Dinner Party]]'', on Bravo TV.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stasi|first=Linda|title=Two hot dishes|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/two_hot_dishes_592jhe6iVHAin0rH4LR7rM|newspaper=New York Post|date=June 13, 2011}}</ref>
DiSpirito appeared as a celebrity contestant on the June 21, 2012, episode of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] dating game show ''[[The Choice (American TV series)|The Choice]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Episodes|url=http://www.fox.com/the-choice/full-episodes/23648696/taylor-hicks,-warren-sapp,-rocco-dispirito|work=Taylor Hicks, Warren Sapp, Rocco DiSpirito|publisher=Fox.com|accessdate=October 6, 2012|archive-date=July 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702110113/http://www.fox.com/the-choice/full-episodes/23648696/taylor-hicks,-warren-sapp,-rocco-dispirito|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hibberd|first=James|title=Fox's 'The Choice' cast revealed! Joe Jonas, Dean Cain, The Situation, many more -- EXCLUSIVE|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/05/08/fox-choice-celebrities/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|accessdate=April 11, 2013|date=May 8, 2012}}</ref>
DiSpirito hosted the syndicated television program ''Now Eat This! with Rocco Dispirito'', which debuted on September 15, 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title='Now Eat This' To Debut To 75% Coverage|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/62175/now-eat-this-to-debut-to-75-coverage|newspaper=TVNewsCheck|date=September 13, 2012}}</ref>
In 2013, DiSpirito hosted the Food Network reality show ''Restaurant Divided'', where he went to struggling restaurants where the owners had two differing visions and then picked which concept would save the restaurant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kitchendaily.com/read/rocco-dispirito-restaurant-divided |title=Rocco DiSpirito Discusses His Show, Restaurant Divided | Kitchen Daily |access-date=2013-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127045023/http://www.kitchendaily.com/read/rocco-dispirito-restaurant-divided |archive-date=2013-11-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/restaurant-divided/episodes|title=Restaurant Divided Episodes|publisher=[[Food Network]]}}</ref>
On August 20, 2017, DiSpirito appeared on celebrity chef Guy Fieri's ''Guy's Grocery Games - Superstar Tournament Part 1'', competing against other celebrity chefs for a $40,000 first prize donated to their chosen charity. DiSpirito made it to the finale and beat the previous tournament winner, Iron Chef [[Alex Guarnaschelli]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Exclusive: One-on-One interview with the Winner of Guy's Superstar Games|author=Raneri, Joel|date=September 2017|publisher=[[Food Network]]|url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/shows/2017/09/exclusive-one-on-on-interview-with-the-winner-of-guys-superstar-games}}</ref>
DiSpirito has appeared on ''[[Guy's Grocery Games]]''<ref name=M/> and ''[[Tournament of Champions (TV series)|Tournament of Champions]]'', both hosted by his friend [[Guy Fieri]].<ref name=M/>
He has also made appearances on ''[[Guy's Ranch Kitchen]]''.<ref name=M>{{cite web|url=https://www.mashed.com/1188517/behind-the-scenes-of-guys-ranch-kitchen-with-food-network-chef-rocco-dispirito/|title=Behind The Scenes Of Guy's Ranch Kitchen With Food Network Chef Rocco DiSpirito|author=King, Gillian|date=February 3, 2023|publisher=[[Mashed.com]]}}</ref>
After a lengthy hiatus as a restaurateur, DiSpirito returned to the kitchen in 2019 as the chef at the Standard Grill in New York City's [[Meatpacking District, Manhattan|Meatpacking District]].<ref name="merwin">{{citation|last=Merwin|first=Hugh|title=Rocco, Rebooted After 15 years, Rocco DiSpirito is back on the line. Will his critics give him another chance?|date=January 22, 2019|url=http://www.grubstreet.com/2019/01/rocco-dispirito-chef-the-standard-grill-nyc.html|newspaper=Grub Street}}</ref> In October 2019, it was announced that DiSpirito was no longer with the restaurant.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chef Rocco DiSpirito Is Already Out at the Standard Grill|author=Tuder, Stefanie|date=October 24, 2019|work=[[Eater (website)|Eater]]|url=https://ny.eater.com/2019/10/24/20928824/rocco-dispirito-out-standard-grill-nyc}}</ref>
==Health==
In 2015, DiSpirito underwent an emergency surgery, a [[discectomy]], spinal surgery for his acute sciatica.<ref name=E>{{cite web|url=https://www.eater.com/2019/11/1/20940926/rocco-dispirito-the-restaurant-reality-show-nbc-mark-burnett|title=Reality Bites|website=Eater|author=Ashworth, Samuel|date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> The surgery left DiSpirito in a wheelchair while he learned to walk again.<ref name=FW>{{cite web|work=[[Food & Wine]]|url=https://www.foodandwine.com/chefs/rocco-dispirito-standard-grill|title=Where'd You Go, Chef Rocco DiSpirito?|author=Kinsman, Kat|date=August 11, 2022}}</ref>
==Awards==
* ''[[James Beard Foundation Award]]''<ref name="Food">{{Cite news | last = Chikiamco| first = Norma| publication-date = December 2006 | date = January 2007 | title = Everybody Loves Rocco | periodical = Food: The Philippines' Largest Selling Culinary Magazine | publication-place =Philippines | pages = 62 }}</ref> for his book ''Flavor''
* 1999, ''America's Best New Chef''<ref name="Food"/> by ''[[Food & Wine]]'' magazine
* 2000, ''Most Exciting Young Chef''<ref name="Food"/> by ''[[Gourmet (magazine)|Gourmet]]'' magazine
* 2000, Nominated Best Chef: New York City by James Beard Foundation<ref name="Brett Moore, About.com Guide">{{cite web|title=Rocco DiSpirito Biography|work=About.com|url=http://gourmetfood.about.com/od/chefbiographi2/p/roccodispirito.htm|author=Brett Moore, About.com Guide|accessdate=June 26, 2011|archive-date=August 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817104308/http://gourmetfood.about.com/od/chefbiographi2/p/roccodispirito.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2001, Nominated Best Chef: New York City by James Beard Foundation<ref name="Brett Moore, About.com Guide"/>
* 2002, ''Sexiest Chef Alive''<ref name="Food"/> by ''[[People (magazine)|People]]''
* 2003 Nominated Best Chef: New York City by James Beard Foundation<ref name="Brett Moore, About.com Guide"/>
* 2004 Winner James Beard Award: Best Cookbook - Cooking From A Professional Point of View<ref name="Brett Moore, About.com Guide"/>
==Cookbooks==
* (2003, November 5) ''Flavor''. Hyperion. ({{ISBN|0786868562}})
* (2004, November 17) ''Rocco's Italian American''. Hyperion. ({{ISBN|0786868570}})
* (2005, December 6) ''Rocco's Five Minute Flavor: Fabulous Meals with 5 Ingredients in 5 Minutes''. Scribner. ({{ISBN|0743273842}})
* (2007, November 6) ''Rocco's Real Life Recipes: Fast Flavor for Everyday''. Wiley. ({{ISBN|0696237032}})
* (2008, October 21) ''Rocco Gets Real: Cook at Home, Every Day''. Wiley. ({{ISBN|0696238233}})
* (2010, March 2) ''Now Eat This!: 150 of America's Favorite Comfort Foods, All Under 350 Calories''. Ballantine Books. ({{ISBN|0345520904}})
* (2011, March 22) ''Now Eat This! Diet: Lose Up to 10 Pounds in Just 2 Weeks Eating 6 Meals a Day!'' Grand Central Life & Style. ({{ISBN|0446584495}})
* (2012, September 25) ''Now Eat This! Italian: Favorite Dishes from the Real Mamas of Italy—All Under 350 Calories''. Grand Central Life & Style. ({{ISBN|0446584517}})
* (2014, January 7) ''The Pound a Day Diet: Lose Up to 5 Pounds in 5 Days by Eating the Foods You Love''.
* (2016, January 28) ''The Negative Calorie Diet: Lose Up to 10 Pounds in 10 Days with 10 All You Can Eat Foods''. HarperWave. ({{ISBN|0062378139}})
* (2017, October 17) ''Rocco's Healthy & Delicious: More than 200 (Mostly) Plant-Based Recipes for Everyday Life''.
* (2020, March 3) ''Rocco's Keto Comfort Food Diet: Eat the Foods You Miss and Still Lose Up to a Pound a Day''.
* (2024, April 30) ''Everyday Delicious''.
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.roccodispirito.com/}}
* ''[[New York (magazine)|New York Magazine]]'' [http://nymag.com/nymetro/food/features/n_10216/ feature story] about fallout from the reality TV show
* {{IMDb name|1406387}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dispirito, Rocco}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Queens, New York]]
[[Category:American cookbook writers]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American television chefs]]
[[Category:American chefs]]
[[Category:Boston University School of Management alumni]]
[[Category:Television chefs]]
[[Category:Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park alumni]]
[[Category:Diet food advocates]]
[[Category:Participants in American reality television series]]
[[Category:American restaurateurs]]
[[Category:James Beard Foundation Award winners]]
[[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]
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