http://www.ilboccaccio.com/ Critically acclaimed (Gourmet, Los Angeles Times, Zagats,) Chef and protégé of Wolfgang Puck and Marcella Hazan, Joe Venezia owns and operates the popular and very authentic Il Boccaccio on the Promenade in downtown Hermosa Beach. Following graduation from the Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park, NY class of 78), Venezia was brought in as sous chef to the soon-to-open Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, where he was to work with former CIA classmate, Dean Fearing. Impressed with Venezias style, the hotels management company brought Venezia to Los Angeles as Executive Chef of the exclusive BEL AIR HOTEL, where he enjoyed a popular seven-year reign. While in Los Angeles, Venezia teamed up with Chef Wolfgang Puck, revamping menus and putting his mark on establishments such as DELICIAS in Rancho Santa Fe, MASONS in Brentwood and the newly renovated HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT HOTEL. When Marcella Hazan got wind of Venezias talents, she hired him to head up her new kitchen at VENI, VEDI, VICI in Atlanta. Prior to opening, she whisked him off to Venice and Bologna, Italy, where his skill with Italian cuisine was fine-tuned. Eventually, California beckoned him back, this time, to turn the somewhat floundering I.Cugini in Santa Monica into a credible success. Since 1994, Venezia has owned Il Boccaccio, close to his home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, where he oversees his organic garden of specialty produce for his restaurant. Venezia has appeared on numerous televised cooking programs and has been praised by the likes of Gourmet Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Food and Wine and the Zagat Survey. His recipes have been featured in popular cookbooks, and he and his wife, Carla, write a regular food column for Vision magazine. The Venezias have four children. Il Boccaccio is located at 39 Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach. For further info call 310-376-0211.