Vetri CucinaMarc Vetri

Marc Vetri is the chef and founder of Philadelphia’s critically acclaimed Vetri Cucina. In addition  to his storied career in the kitchen, Marc is also the driving force behind the Vetri Community  Partnership, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering children and families through  fresh food, hands-on culinary experiences and nutrition education. 

A Philadelphia native, Marc initially pursued a career as a guitarist before realizing his true  passion was cooking. Trained in Bergamo, Italy by some of the region's most notable chefs,  Marc has become known the world over for bringing a bold, contemporary sensibility to classic  Italian cooking.  

In 1998, Marc and his business partner, Jeff Benjamin, opened Vetri Cucina in a historic  townhome in the heart of Philadelphia. The intimate restaurant’s signature pastas, innovative  flavors and artful presentations captured imaginations and earned universal acclaim, propelling  Marc to the forefront of the culinary world.  

Within two years of Vetri Cucina’s debut, Marc was named one of Food & Wine's “Best New  Chefs” and received the Philadelphia Inquirer's highest restaurant rating. In 2005, he received  the James Beard Award for "Best Chef Mid-Atlantic." 

Following years of continued success at Vetri Cucina, Marc debuted Osteria in 2007. A larger  and more casual endeavor, Osteria quickly developed a loyal following with a rustic menu of  traditional Italian thin-crust pizzas, homemade pastas and wood-grilled meats. 

Marc and The Vetri Family’s third restaurant, Amis, opened its doors in 2010. Inspired by Rome’s  bustling neighborhood trattorias, this warm, vibrant restaurant specializes in small plates  designed to be shared among friends. Shortly after opening its doors, Amis was named one of  the country’s “Top 10 Places for Pasta” by Bon Appetit. Amis has since introduced a second  location in Westport, Connecticut, and the brand has expanded to include Bar Amis, a lively  waterfront destination in Philadelphia’s Navy Yard. 

In 2013, Marc debuted Pizzeria Vetri. His most casual eatery to date now boasts two locations  in Philadelphia. 

In 2015, Urban Outfitters Inc., a leading lifestyle retail company, joined forces with several of  The Vetri Family restaurants. Given their similar forward-thinking cultures and vision, this  strategic partnership allowed each company to grow and reach new audiences. After a  successful advisory period, Marc left the group in 2017 to rededicate himself to pushing culinary  boundaries at Vetri Cucina.  

Marc celebrated his flagship restaurant’s 20th anniversary by hosting an acclaimed series of  guest chef dinners featuring some of the most respected names in the industry. That same year,  Vetri Cucina was re-reviewed by The Philadelphia Inquirer, which noted the “graceful” evolution  of the restaurant over two decades and maintained its esteemed “Four Bell” rating. Vetri Cucina  was also welcomed into AAA’s exclusive list of Five Diamond Restaurants.

In 2018, Marc continued to expand Vetri Cucina’s horizons with a second location at The Palms  Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Located on the 56th floor and featuring sweeping views of the Las  Vegas strip and Red Rocks mountains, the restaurant offers an a la carte sampling of the rustic  Italian dishes Marc and his team have spent decades crafting in Philadelphia. 

Marc’s newest Philadelphia restaurant is a pasta bar located in the Italian Market. The building  where the restaurant resides was a handmade sausage storefront called Fiorella’s which dated  back to 1904. Marc bought the building in November of 2018 and it has been transformed into  an intimate restaurant focusing on pasta. In order to carry on the historic building’s legacy, the  restaurant is called Fiorella – the original owners and family have given their blessing. Fiorella  opened in February of 2020 and now has a beautiful outdoor patio space for guests to enjoy.  

Marc’s latest culinary undertaking is Osteria Fiorella in the Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in  Las Vegas. This restaurant was originally intended to be a pop-up but due to its success it is  now a permanent fixture. The casual restaurant features antipasti and salads, pizzas made in a  wood burning oven, daily hand-made pastas, meat and fish and of course dessert, wine and  cocktails. Osteria Fiorella focuses on a variety of classics perfected by Marc while living and  cooking throughout Italy. 

In addition to his restaurants, Marc is the author of Il Viaggio di Vetri, a collection of more than  125 of Vetri Cucina’s most-requested dishes. His second cookbook, Rustic Italian Food, brought  artisan cooking into home kitchens and was named one of the top cookbooks of 2011 by Bon  Appetit. In 2015, he explored the art and science of Italian cooking with Mastering Pasta, which  he followed up in 2017 with Mastering Pizza. Marc’s newest cookbook, Mastering Bread, was  released in October of 2020.  

Outside the kitchen, Marc is deeply passionate about giving back to his hometown of  Philadelphia. In 2009, along with Jeff Benjamin, he created the Vetri Community Partnership to  help children experience the connection between healthy eating and healthy living. Additionally,  Marc and Jeff are the founders of the Great Chefs Event, an annual celebration that brings  together the country’s greatest culinary leaders to raise money and awareness for Alex’s  Lemonade Stand Foundation, a pediatric cancer charity. 

Marc lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Megan, and their three children. He enjoys spending  weekends cooking with his family, training in Brazilian jiu jitsu and playing guitar.