Hello, my name is Carlo Nigro, thank you for passing through Carluccio’s way.

It is an honor and a pleasure to be serving you traditional Italian cuisine. As a young child I was always in the kitchen with one of the chefs that inspired me most. She always cooked with the highest quality ingredients, and most of all she cooked with passion and love. She is the one and only, Carolina Nigro, my mother. I learned many great secrets from her.

Then there was a time in my life that I went to live in Italy to learn more about my roots and family. I worked on a farm in Campobasso, Italy, where we grew organic vegetables, raised chickens, lambs and wild boar. The work was very intense, but well worth it. One night, the staff at Il Noce asked me to prepare a dinner for New Year’s Eve and I could not say no. I was very nervous because I was the only American and thought this could be a great experience or a huge disaster. The night came for me to cook and serve the dinner, and when it was complete, I recieved a standing ovation. From that day on, I was the full-time grounds chef.

My next journey was to the great Villa Dora in Avellino, Italy, where I worked in the vineyards of the Master Bernardino. Afterwards, I made my way to a butcher shop in Avellino where I learned to prepare a variety of Italian seasonal cured meats. Then I was asked to cook for the people of Villa Dora. I prepared a great dinner using mushrooms I hand picked in the woods, and combined it with a fresh pesto sauce over pasta. While I was there, one of the most memorable moments while cooking in Villa Dora happened. I heard my name called out and turned to see my entire family that had come to Italy to surprise me. While enjoying a meal I prepared for them, I felt full of pride and my mother looked at me and said that it was great. I was so honored.

As a child, I was inspired by many dinners I ate, prepared by Nunzio Patruno in his various restaurants. So when I arrived back in America, I was given the opportunity to work along side of him, for this I am extremely grateful.

I also would like to give a special thank you to my father, brother, wife, children and friends.

So now, my great friends, I invite you to come and enjoy my creations at Carluccio’s, a small South Philly restaurant where everything is prepared with love and passion.