Le Jeune Chef Restaurant

Lifelong Education Center, Rm. B107 · For reservations phone (570) 320-CHEF or (570) 320-2433

Visiting Chef

* This biography was accurate at the time of the chef's appearance on campus.(October 10, 1998)

Steven Chiappettie

Chef/Operator

Rhapsody, Mango & Grapes Chicago

Joe Proud Sous Chef, Mango

"My emphasis is on delicious dishes that mirror the diverse American table," says Steven Chiappettie, the chef/operator of the new restaurant, Rhapsody, at the Chico Symphony Orchestra Center.

Chiappetti earned rave reviews, critical acclaim and packed houses as chef/proprietor of Mango restaurant in Chicago's River North area. Chicago Magazine nominated Mango as one of the best new restaurants of 1995 - giving Chiappetti the recognition of his hometown peers.

Nominated in 1997 for the prestigious James Beard Foundation's Rising Star Chef award and named by Wine Spectator magazine as one of America's Rising Young Culinary Stars, Chiappetti was also selected to represent the United States in France's Bocuse d'Or cooking competition.

Chiapepetti's passion for food began when he was a small boy growing up on Chicago's South Side. He worked after school and on weekends at Chiappetti Lamb Packing, his family's business for three generations, which today is the only company that remains in Chicago's Stockyard Pavilion. It was through the family business that he met some of the country's greatest chefs.

"I met some amazing chefs who were passionate about what they did every day. They were true artists. I couldn't help but be inspired to become a chef," Chiappetti remembers.

Chiappetti began his formal culinary training as an intern to executive chef Guy Petit at the former Cricket's in the Tremont Hotel. He went on to work under chef Fernand Gutierrez at the Ritz Carlton Hotel and Chef Paul Baralotta at Chicago's famed Spiaggia.

From Gutierrez, he learned classic French fare; with Bartalotta, he returned to his Italian roots and refined his skills as dining room sous chef. Finally, he felt ready to run his own kitchen. He opened Costa D'oro in Chicago in 1995, where Chicagos Magazine said, "Chiappetti's dramatic northern Italian cooking oozes American flash and "French flair."

Later in 1995, he realized his dream of opening a classic European bistro in Chicago, with Mango. In July 1997, he open yet another Chicago restaurant, Grapes, a Mediterranean café. Chiappetti considers Mango to be his painter palette of creativity; Grapes, a reflection of classic teachings, and Phapsody, a heightened image of life, which includes music, art and good food.