Vincenzo's Italian Restaurant

Agostino Gabriele Biography
Executive Chef and co/owner

Hometown: Palermo, Sicily
Birthday: 6/12/49
Family: Agostino has been married to his wife Joan for 32 years. Together they have four children Rosanna, Carmelo, Sarah, and Michael. He is the proud grandparent of Miles and Felix.

Career Highlights:

1963 Began career as kitchen help at “Rosticceria Domore” in Palermo, Sicily.
1964-67 Traveled and trained under internationally renowned Chef Cascino at “Le Caprice”.
1968 Operated “Desire” in Palermo, Sicily a resort restaurant and was a manager at “La Scuderia” owned by restaurateur Mr. Pino Stancanpiano.
1969-71 Moved to St. Louis, Missouri to work for his uncle restaurant “Agostino’s On the Hill”
1972-74 Moved to Dusseldorf, Germany and worked at “Park Hotel”. Then finishing his European tour in Milan, Italy at “The Second Matteo”.
1974 Moved back to St. Louis to work for his brother Giovanni’s again before opening his first restaurant.
1975 The opening of “Agostino’s Little Place” in St. Louis, MO. Agostino’s Little place was voted in the top six restaurants in St. Louis yearly and received the Best Restaurant Award for eight consecutive years.
1986 Agostino and his brother Vincenzo merged together in Louisville, Kentucky. Opening one of the most well established restaurants to date.
1986-Present During his 23 years of success, Agostino has received multiple awards and honors. Such as being an honored chef at the James Beard House. Cooking at the “Tavern on the Green” in New York City where he was the only representative from Kentucky to be invited. He has been featured on Discovery Channel’s, “Best Chef’s”. Also, a special feature about Vincenzo’s Italian Restaurant by Food Network TV that captured the success of the two brothers.

Awards: Vincenzo’s has received numerous awards throughout its years. They have received 24 awards from local papers and press release ranging from the Best of Louisville to Peoples Choice Awards. In 2004, Vincenzo and Agostino were honored to accept the National Restaurant Association’s Hall of Fame Award. In 2007 & 2008 recipients of the DiRoNA award.