David Rocco (born July 27, 1970) is a Canadian author, cook, and host of several internationally syndicated television series. He is most known for producing and hosting the television series David Rocco's Dolce Vita, and publishing four cookbooks Avventura, David Rocco's Dolce Vita, Made in Italy, and David Rocco's Dolce Famiglia.
David Rocco | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | July 27, 1970 Scarborough, Ontario, Canada |
| Spouse |
Nina Rocco (m. 1995) |
| Children | 3 |
| Culinary career | |
| Cooking style | Italian |
Television show(s)
| |
Early life
editDavid Rocco was born on July 27, 1970, in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to Italian immigrants from Naples, Italy. His parents were both hairdressers, and he is the youngest of three children.[1] Rocco later moved with his family to Woodbridge, Ontario as a teenager.[1]
In 1995, he married his high school sweetheart, Nina.[1] The couple later moved to Rosedale, Toronto, and have twin daughters and a son.[1][2]
Rocco was a model as a teenager, and worked for agencies including Elite and Armstrong Men. He and Nina took acting classes together and both also studied at York University. The couple ran a restaurant, La Madonnina, in Woodbridge, but gave it up a year later to pursue acting.[1]
Career
editIn 1997, without success in the feature film world, Rocco figured a food show would be better. He and his wife, on holiday in Italy, shot a video showcasing different foods, and later showed it to a Toronto production company. This led to a 26-episode TV series featuring food and travel called Avventura: Journey in Italian Cuisine.[1]
In 2005, Rocco's self-produced TV series David Rocco's Dolce Vita premiered on Food Network Canada. It ended in 2010 after five seasons, and reached an international audience, including in the U.S. on the Cooking Channel.
Several spin-offs of the show followed including, David Rocco's Dolce Napoli (2011–17), David Rocco's Amalfi Getaway (2012), David Rocco's Dolce India (2013–14), David Rocco's Dolce Africa (2018), David Rocco's Dolce Italia (2020), David Rocco's Dolce Southeast Asia (2020), and David Rocco's Dolce HomeMade (2022).[2]
In 2018, Rocco and Hong Kong singer Nicholas Tse co-hosted FOX Life's Celebrity Chef: East vs West.
Cook books
editRocco has published four cookbooks:
- Avventura (Bay Books; January 2001)
- David Rocco's Dolce Vita (HarperCollins; November 2008)
- Made In Italy (Clarkson Potter, HarperCollins; October 2011)
- Dolce Famiglia (HarperCollins; November 2016)
Other ventures
editIn 2015, Rocco launched a line of wines, a Chianti, a Prosecco and a Pinot Grigio named David Rocco's Dolce Vita.[3]
In 2021, Rocco opened a Yorkville, Toronto restaurant called David Rocco - Bar Aperitivo.[4] In 2022, Rocco launched his own line of Italian-made pastas (orecchiette, strozzapreti and fusilli Pugliesi) and sauces (pomodoro & basilico, arrabbiata, puttanesca and ricotta & pecorino).[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "The Food Network's David and Nina Rocco live a picture-perfetto life at home". The Globe and Mail. May 30, 2010.
- ^ a b "Celebrity chef David Rocco on food, fatherhood and finding a healthy balance". The Globe and Mail. June 15, 2023.
- ^ "TV personality David Rocco showcases his wines in Windsor". windsorstar.com. December 7, 2015.
- ^ a b "David Rocco, International Celebrity Chef, Launches His Own Line of Authentic Italian-Made Pasta and Premium Sauces Across Canada and the US". newswire.ca. November 22, 2022.