Paul Bartolotta


Paul Bartolotta is an American chef and restaurateur. Most recently he is known for his authentic style and his innovative approach to importing fresh seafood from Mediterranean waters. Paul Bartolotta has won the James Beard Foundation Award twice—once for Best Chef: Midwest, and again for Best Chef: Southwest, at Bartolotta, Ristorante di Mare at Wynn Las Vegas. He is a recipient of the Insegna del Ristorante Italiano del Mondo, which was awarded to him in 1997 by Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, the President of Italy at the time.

Early life

Bartolotta was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is the third of Beverly Mae and Salvatore "T.J." Bartolotta's four children. His father was of Italian descent and his mother was of Austrian ancestry. He began working in restaurants at the age of 15 and eventually obtained an apprenticeship under John Marangelli, whom he credits with helping to cultivate his sense of “taste.” In 1980, after cooking in local restaurants and graduating from Milwaukee Area Technical College, Bartolotta traveled to New York City. He met restaurateur Tony May, owner of the Rainbow Room at that time, and founder of the Gruppo Ristoratori Italiani. With the support of May, Bartolotta traveled to Italy in the fall of 1980 for what would become a seven-year education in European cuisine.

European Apprenticeship and Training

During Bartolotta's first seven months in Italy he worked at Locanda dell’Angelo under Chef Angelo Paracucchi in Lunigiana. He then traveled to Imola to work at the Michelin rated two-star Ristorante San Domenico under Chef Valentino Marcattilii and owner Gianluigi Morini, where he earned the title of “Chef di Cucina” at the age of 24.
In 1984 Bartolotta moved on to France, where he worked at Relais et Chateau and Traditions et Qualité restaurants under several three star Michelin chefs. Among these were Moulin de Mougins under Chef Roger Verge, Paul Bocuse in Collognes à Mont D’Or, with Chefs Pierre and Michel Troisgros in Roanne, and at the Taillevent in Paris. While in Paris, Bartolotta also took advanced pastry courses in Gaston Le Nôtre's Ecôle Le Nôtre in Plaisir.

Career (United States)

New York

Bartolotta returned to New York in 1988, and began working for Tony May at two restaurants. He was developing San Domenico NY as head chef while also working at Palio at night, where he met his wife Robbi Eisenmesser. During Bartolotta's tenure at San Domenico NY, it received a three-star review from The New York Times food critic Bryan Miller, a pioneering achievement for an Italian Restaurant. Esquire's food critic John Mariani awarded San Domenico NY with an Esky Award in 1988 for “Best New Restaurant in the U.S.” Around this time, San Domenico NY was also noted as one of the “Top 50 Restaurants in the United States” by Mimi Sheraton of Condé Nast Traveler, and in 1990 and 1991 San Domenico received four stars from Forbes Magazine .

Chicago

In 1991 Bartolotta left New York for Chicago where he joined Levy Restaurants as head chef of their signature restaurant, Spiaggia. This role involved overseeing Spiaggia, the Spiaggia Café, and the Spiaggia private dining rooms facility. From 1991 to 2000 Bartolotta ran Spiaggia; in 1993, in addition to his role as chef, he became a managing partner. In 1994 Bartolotta won the James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef: Midwest. Spiaggia also received the AAA Four Diamond Award consecutively from 1994 to 2000 during Bartolotta's tenure. In 1997 Bartolotta was awarded the Insegna del Ristorante Italiano del Mondo, which recognizes a select group of chefs around the world as authentic ambassadors of Italian cuisine. Spiaggia was noted as one of Restaurants and Institutions Top 100 Restaurants in 1998 and 1999. That same year Spiaggia became Chicago's first and only restaurant to win four stars from both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago .

Milwaukee

In 1993 Bartolotta entered into partnership with his brother, Joe Bartolotta, co-founding The Bartolotta Restaurants. As chef and co-owner, the Milwaukee-based restaurant group would go on to start and run one fine dining restaurant, six upscale casual restaurants and five quick casual restaurants. Mr. B's, Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro, and Ristorante Bartolotta respectively won the DiRoNA award. The Bartolotta brothers also established Bartolotta Catering and Special Events Company that exclusively caters to Pier Wisconsin and The Grain Exchange. In 2009 a partnership was established with SSP America at General Mitchell International Airport to include Nonna's, North Point Custard, and Pizzeria Piccola .

Las Vegas

In 2004 Bartolotta left Chicago for Las Vegas, after being selected by Steve Wynn to conceptualize, develop, and run the hotel's Italian restaurant. This became BARTOLOTTA, Ristorante di Mare, his namesake restaurant. Located in Wynn Las Vegas, BARTOLOTTA, Ristorante di Mare seated approximately 258, imported 1 to 1.5 tons of seafood per week, and served it within 19 to 48 hours of being caught in the Mediterranean. Significant effort was expended to keep track of the seafood during air transport, including the use of small microchips to monitor temperature. On site is a tank facility was overseen by a full-time marine biologist, Yasmin Tajik. BARTOLOTTA, Ristorante di Mare was one of only 12 restaurants in the world, and the only restaurant in the Western Hemisphere, to serve fresh-caught langoustines, a phenomenon explored at length in a Departures article published in January 2011. In 2006 BARTOLOTTA, Ristorante di Mare received a James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant, and in 2009 Bartolotta won the James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef: Southwest. BARTOLOTTA, Ristorante di Mare has also received the AAA Four Diamond Award from 2006-2012, and received a Forbes Four Star award in 2012. It was announced in July, 2015 that Bartolotta would leave the Wynn Las Vegas. On Sunday October 18, 2015 BARTOLOTTA, Ristorante di Mare served their final meal.

Media Appearances

American Television