is a James Beard award-winning chef, healthy lifestyle crusader and #1 New York Times bestselling author who is dedicated to proving that healthy and delicious are not mutually exclusive.
Recently, DiSpirito brought his creative vision and culinary talents to the iconic Standard Grill restaurant at The Standard, High Line. As Chef, he reimagined a menu of healthful and indulgent options, led a visual redesign of the dining room and elevated the kitchen with an expanded raw bar and new Binchotan-fired Josper grill from Spain. Offering exquisite, fresh, organic, locally-sourced and gluten-free meals, his celebrated return to a restaurant kitchen earned high praise, including a notable 2-star New York Times review. The chef also delighted customers by featuring his signature Peconic Bay Scallops & Uni dish first served at his critically acclaimed 3star restaurant Union Pacific which was a culinary landmark in NYC for many years.
Growing up in Queens, New York, DiSpirito’s love of food began at a young age where his mother taught him how to make simple, magnificent meals using only a handful of real foods. His passion for cooking led him to study at the Culinary Institute of America and Boston University, where he graduated early to embark on his culinary career. By the time he turned 20 years old, he was working in the kitchens of legendary chefs around the globe. He was named Food & Wine magazine’s “Best New Chef,” People magazine’s “Sexiest Chef” and was the first chef to appear on Gourmet magazine’s cover as “America’s Most Exciting Young Chef.”
He is the author of thirteen books that have been translated into multiple languages and sold the world over. His first book, Flavor, earned DiSpirito a James Beard award and showed readers how to create bold, sophisticated yet surprisingly easy meals. His bestselling cookbook series Now Eat This inspired DiSpirito’s syndicated television show, Now Eat This! with Rocco DiSpirito, which he also executive produced. Additionally, in 2012 DiSpirito founded his production house, Savory Place Media, whose first project for AOL Originals, Now Eat This! Italy, became an instant Top 10 series and received millions of views.
A global #1 bestselling phenomenon, The Pound A Day Diet book led DiSpirito to create a bespoke meal delivery service that he currently runs in New York City. He prepares fresh, delicious, ready-to-eat meals that are delivered to clients across the country. Each client receives a menu completely customized to help reach their weight loss, lifestyle, and health goals, and features only the best, local, natural, organic, no sugar added, gluten-free and dairy-free ingredients.
After this runaway hit, DiSpirito introduced The Negative Calorie Diet, which also debuted as a New York Times bestseller, followed by his latest cookbook Rocco’s Healthy + Delicious, which inspired DiSpirito’s plant-based, all-natural product line featuring high-protein bars, shakes, protein powders, flours and snacks.
He frequently appears as a special guest judge on Guy’s Grocery Games. He has guided life-changing transformations as the Healthy Food Coach on ABC’s Extreme Weight Loss, hosted the cooking competition show Restaurant Divided on Food Network and starred in Rocco’s Dinner Party on Bravo.
His remarkable weight loss journey has played a significant role in his cooking philosophy as well as his charitable efforts for over a decade now. To that end, he serves as an Ambassador for HealthCorps, inspiring students at schools across the country to build healthier habits. Dr. Mehmet Oz, HealthCorps Chairman, presented DiSpirito with the organization’s highest honor, the Golden Heart Award. Additionally, in September 2017, he earned the champion title of the hit Food Network series Guy’s Grocery Games: Superstars, and donated the $40,000 grand prize to HealthCorps.
Advocating on behalf of food issues has been one of the most rewarding experiences of DiSpirito’s life. He is an Entertainment Council member for Feeding America, advisor with Wellness in the Schools (WITS), and frequent volunteer at food banks throughout NYC. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, DiSpirito donated 500 warm meals a day for two months from his Now Eat This food truck.
He is hailed as a leading health expert and is often called upon to speak at events, including the Partnership for a Healthier America summit in Washington, D.C. He enjoys bicycling and participating in triathlons. @RoccoDiSpirito / Rocco.Shop