Chef Antonio De Ieso of Fiorentini in Rutherford was recently recognized by the Italian government as a representative of I AM CUCINA ITALIANA, becoming the first chef in New Jersey to receive the honor.
The award is given to chefs around the globe who display authentic Italian cuisine and culture. The New Jersey-based, Florence-born chef employs a mix of authentic Italian cooking with local produce and meats at Fiorentini, which has been named to our Best Restaurants list three years in a row.
De Ieso was honored at the Fancy Food Show, which took place in New York at the end of June and concluded on July 1. The initiative is spearheaded by the Italian Ministero dell’Agricoltura (Ministry of Agriculture).
“We’re proud to announce Chef Antonio is the first chef in New Jersey to receive this recognition, and we’ll keep sharing authentic Italian flavors with our community and beyond,” Fiorentini said in a statement on Instagram.
At Fiorentini, you can experience this concept firsthand. Fiorentini literally means “people of Florence” in Italian, and that ethos is reflected in Chef Antonio’s food. It’s not just limited to Florence either. Instead, Fiorentini offers a full display of authentic Italian flavors and techniques from across the entire country. He combines this with the best local meats and produce to put forth a menu that is skillful, tasty, seasonal and, above all, authentic to Italy.
It’s something I’ve known since I first dined at Fiorentini in 2022. Now, the Italian government itself recognizes the same.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
