Paco Zanobini

Teaches at La Scuola at Eataly Chicago

Chef Paco Zanobini was born and raised in Livorno, a vibrant port city on the western coast of Tuscany. Since childhood he has been passionate about traditional cooking having been raised in his family’s restaurant in Punta Ala. As a young chef, he worked in famous kitchens in Madrid and New Delhi which gave him the opportunity to broaden his culinary knowledge and to experiment with Oriental spices and flavors. After years abroad Chef Paco returned home to immerse himself in authentic Italian Regional Cuisine, particularly focusing on the Appenino Tosco-Emiliano in his search to discover and uncover the hidden secrets of lesser-known dishes of the zone. Using his passion for trail hiking Chef Paco literally climbed his way through the hills to discover the riches and recipes of the locals. In 201, he co-authored the book “Il Cammino dei Sapori da Parma alle Cinque Terre” with journalist and friend Andrei Greci, which encompasses a description of the trails along with the recipes from Parma, UNESCO city of creative gastronomy, to Riomaggiore, one of the most charming seaside villages of Cinque Terre.