Sep 24, 2025
Imagine growing up in a small town in Sicily, dreaming of coming
to America to open a
restaurant, and surpassing all of your dreams? Chef Salvo Lo Castro
did just that,
where he began his culinary career at a young age in Sicily and now
feeds the world
from his NYC Soho restaurant, Casasalvo, considered a truly divine
experience for the
senses. Perhaps it's because Chef Salvo was formerly the lead chef
at the Vatican for
Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and now, we can eat like
kings, royalty, and the
spiritual leaders, too, at his magnificent new eatery.
I'm honored to welcome Chef Salvo to our show, sharing not only
his experiences in
the kitchen, but behind the scenes, too. He's cooked for the likes
of Vadimir Putin, the
Saudi Royal family, Muammar Gaddafi, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro and
dozens of
other world leaders, presidents, and celebrities. In fact, he's
quoted as saying that
after a meal, some high-profile guests will surprise him in the
kitchen and thank him
for a meal well served. Imagine!
We'll talk about Chef Salvo's start in the culinary world, and
how he ended up cooking
at the Vatican after working around the world at top hotels and
five-star Michelin
restaurants. He says he does not get star-struck, because to him,
every guest is
treated like family. And no doubt, that's been part of his
incredible success, along with
his hand-crafted pastas and sauces. Chef Salvo says his ingredients
are all fresh or
from specialty farms with tradition in mind. He says he combines
tradition with taste,
and creativity with authenticity. Among his favorite dishes? His
mother's meatballs, a
recipe he cooks up to this day.
For Chef Salvo, owning a restaurant in N.Y. is a dream come
true. He first opened
three espresso bars in the City which he still checks on each
morning before riding
down to his restaurant in Soho on his Vespa. He spends 18-hours a
day there, which
he calls home and his patrons invited guests. No doubt part of his
success.
We're thrilled to welcome Chef Salvo into our home, particularly
with Italian History
Month upon us. Please find my full interview with him on all video
and audio platforms
of #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, and
#DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite
your friends, too. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my
pleasure to welcome
you here.
@realchefsalvolocastro @casasalvonyc @casasalvorestaurant #italianfood
#italianchef #italianamerican #littleItaly