- Dolce Vito
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Vito Cataffo Born Benevento Italy Died 28th September 2010
LincolnOccupation Restaurateur Vito Cataffo was a British-Italian restaurateur, entrepreneur and TV personality. He is best known for appearing in the Channel Four TV documentary Dolce Vito - Dream Restaurant.
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Early life and career
Vito Cataffo was born in Italy, but emigrated with his family to England in 1952 when he was one year old. The family settled in Southampton, with Cataffo's father becoming a successful green grocer in the city's Bedford Place shopping street. Cataffo entered the catering industry at the age of 19, operating a small Café selling pizza. He gradually expanded, and owned his first restaurant by the age of 25, serving Italian food À la carte.[1] Cataffo went on to own and operate a string of highly successful and award-winning restaurants in Britain, serving the Italian cuisine of his heritage.[2] Cataffo owned five Italian restaurants in the East of England, in Grimsby, Lincoln, Newark and elsewhere, and has a share in 30 other restaurants.[3]
Dolce Vito
In 2009, Vito Cataffo attempted to launch a restaurant in Italy serving British cuisine. His efforts were documented in a Channel 4 TV show named Dolce Vito - Dream Restaurant. The series follows Cataffo as he finds a failing Italian restaurant, rescues and renovates it, and then sets about transforming it into a British restaurant.[4] It also shows Cataldo meeting various producers of high-end British ingredients, and testing these products on the Italian public. Dolce Vito began to air in August 2009, and continued through to September.
Death
After suffering many long term health issues, Cataffo was found dead at his home in Lincoln on Tuesday, 28th September 2010. His fiancee, Margharita Di Maro, stated that he was looking forward to celebrating his 60th birthday despite his deteriorating health.[5] It is believed that the cause of death was diabetes related. [6]
References
- ^ "Channel 4 Food - Food shows, recipes, tips and top chefs - Channel4 - 4Food". Channel4. http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/dolce-vito/interview-with-vito-09-08-06_p_1.html. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
- ^ "Lincoln restaurant owner Vito Cataffo films Channel 4 Dolce Vito in Italy, Gino's, Zucchini's". This is Lincolnshire. 2009-05-11. http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/Vito-s-Italian-job-promote-county-food/article-978992-detail/article.html. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
- ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article6740182.ece
- ^ "Channel 4 Food - Food shows, recipes, tips and top chefs - Channel4 - 4Food". Channel4. http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/dolce-vito/all-about-dolce-vito_p_1.html. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
- ^ Harrison, Peter (2010-09-29). "city restaurateur and TV star Vito Cataffo has been found dead at his home in Lincoln.". This is Lincolnshire. http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/Chef-Vito-mourned-city/article-2697538-detail/article.html. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
- ^ Published on Thu Sep 30 17:15:20 BST 2010. "Death of ‘larger than life’ restaurateur Vito - Local Business News". Grantham Journal. http://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/local-business-news/death_of_larger_than_life_restaurateur_vito_1_1371171. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
External links
- Dolce Vito - Dream Restaurant on Channel4.com
Categories:- British restaurateurs
- British television presenters
- People from Southampton
- Living people
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