Janet Zuccarini is a Canadian entrepreneur, restaurateur, and judge on Food Network Canada’s Top Chef Canada. She is the CEO and founder of Gusto 54 Restaurant Group, which owns and operates several acclaimed restaurants in Toronto and Los Angeles. She is also the partner of Robbie Robertson, a legendary musician, and songwriter who was a member of The Band.
Early Life, Family & Education
Janet Zuccarini was born in Toronto, Canada, to an Italian father and a German mother. Her father, Giacomo Zuccarini, was an espresso machine importer who brought the first espresso machine to Canada in 1954. He also opened Sidewalk Caffè, a popular restaurant in Toronto that was later shut down by his dishonest business partner. Her mother, who learned to cook Italian food from her father-in-law, was known for her homemade pasta and tomato sauce.
Janet Zuccarini grew up with a passion for food and hospitality, inspired by her parents and her Italian heritage. She also developed an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong work ethic from her father, who taught her how to repair and haul espresso machines when she was 12 years old.
After high school, Janet moved to Italy to pursue her education. She graduated with an undergraduate degree and an MBA from Boston University in Rome. She fell in love with the Italian culture and cuisine and learned to cook her grandmother’s recipes. She also dreamed of working for herself and opening her own restaurant.
Career & Achievements
Janet Zuccarini returned to Toronto in 1996 and opened her first restaurant, Café Nervosa, in the Yorkville neighborhood. The restaurant, which was later renamed Trattoria Nervosa, became a success and a celebrity hotspot. Janet defied her father’s advice to avoid the restaurant business, which caused a rift between them for a year. However, they eventually reconciled and he became proud of her accomplishments.
Janet expanded her restaurant empire with Gusto 54 Restaurant Group, which now includes seven Toronto-based culinary concepts: Gusto 101, Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen, Gusto 54 Catering, Gusto 54 Commissary Kitchen, Pai Northern Thai Kitchen, Kiin, and Azhar. She also ventured into the Los Angeles market with Felix Trattoria, which opened in 2017 on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice. Felix Trattoria, which features handmade pasta and authentic regional Italian dishes by chef Evan Funke, received rave reviews and awards from Esquire Magazine, Eater LA, and the James Beard Foundation.
Janet Zuccarini has also made a name for herself as a judge on Top Chef Canada since season five. She brings her expertise and experience as a restaurateur and a food lover to the show, where she evaluates the contestants’ dishes and challenges them to excel.
Janet has been recognized for her leadership and entrepreneurship in the food industry. She won the Foodservice & Hospitality’s Pinnacle Award for “Independent Restaurateur of the Year” in 2017 and received the “TEC Canada Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship” from the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards. She was also featured on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list as the recipient of the American Express Business Leadership Award for 2020.
Restaurant Chain
Janet Zuccarini is a successful entrepreneur and restaurateur who owns and operates the Gusto 54 Restaurant Group, which has eight restaurants in Toronto and Los Angeles. She is also a judge on Top Chef Canada and has won several awards for her leadership and innovation in the food industry.
According to the web search results, some of the restaurants that belong to the Gusto 54 Restaurant Group are:
- Trattoria Nervosa: Janet’s first restaurant, which opened in 1996 in Toronto’s Yorkville neighborhood. It serves classic Italian dishes in a cozy and chic setting.
- Gusto 101: A popular spot in Toronto’s King West area, which offers Southern Italian cuisine and wine on tap in a converted auto-body shop.
- Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen: A vibrant restaurant in Toronto that celebrates Jamaican culture and cuisine, featuring jerk chicken, rum cocktails, and tropical decor.
- Felix Trattoria: Janet’s first venture in Los Angeles, which opened in 2017 on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice. It showcases handmade pasta and authentic regional Italian dishes by chef Evan Funke and has received rave reviews and awards from Esquire Magazine, Eater LA, and the James Beard Foundation.
- Gusto 54 Catering: A catering service that delivers delicious food from Janet’s restaurants to any event, from weddings to corporate functions.
- Gusto 54 Commissary Kitchen: A state-of-the-art facility that produces fresh pasta, sauces, bread, pastries, and more for Janet’s restaurants and catering service.
- Pai Northern Thai Kitchen: A joint venture with chef Nuit Regular, who is known for her authentic Northern Thai cuisine. Pai is located in Toronto’s Entertainment District and has a loyal fan base.
- Kiin: Another collaboration with chef Nuit Regular, which focuses on Royal Thai cuisine and showcases the diversity and complexity of Thai flavors. Kiin is also located in Toronto’s Entertainment District.
- Azhar: A new restaurant that opened in 2020 in Toronto’s Little Italy neighborhood. It features Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes with a modern twist, such as lamb shawarma pizza, za’atar fried chicken, and baklava cheesecake.
These are some of the restaurants that Janet Zuccarini owns and runs as part of her restaurant chain. She is constantly looking for new opportunities and concepts to expand her business and share her passion for food and hospitality with the world.
Parents & Siblings
According to the web search results, Janet Zuccarini’s parents are Giacomo Zuccarini and an unnamed German woman. Her father was an Italian immigrant from Abruzzo who brought the first espresso machine to Canada in 1954. He also opened Sidewalk Caffè, a popular restaurant in Toronto that was later shut down by his dishonest business partner.
Her mother was a German immigrant who learned to cook Italian food from her father-in-law. She was known for her homemade pasta and tomato sauce.
Janet Zuccarini grew up with a passion for food and hospitality, inspired by her parents and her Italian heritage. She also developed an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong work ethic from her father, who taught her how to repair and haul espresso machines when she was 12 years old.
Net Worth & Income Sources
According to the web search results, Janet Zuccarini’s net worth is not publicly disclosed as of now. However, based on her achievements and success in the restaurant industry, she might have a substantial net worth. According to a guess, her estimated net worth is around $15-18 million (approx.).
Janet Zuccarini is the sole owner and visionary behind Gusto 54 Restaurant Group, which welcomes a million customers annually to its restaurants. She is also a resident judge on Food Network Canada’s Top Chef Canada, where she evaluates the contestants’ dishes and challenges them to excel.
Some of the possible sources of income for Janet Zuccarini are:
- Her restaurants: Janet Zuccarini owns and operates eight restaurants under Gusto 54 Restaurant Group: Trattoria Nervosa, Gusto 101, Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen, Gusto 54 Catering, Gusto 54 Commissary Kitchen, Pai Northern Thai Kitchen, Kiin, and Azhar in Toronto; and Felix Trattoria in Los Angeles. These restaurants are popular and acclaimed for their diverse and delicious cuisines, and generate revenue from food sales, catering services, and merchandise.
- Her real estate: Janet Zuccarini has invested in buying the real estate and buildings of her establishments, which gives her more control and stability over her business. She also benefits from the appreciation of property values over time.
- Her television appearances: Janet Zuccarini has been a judge on Top Chef Canada since season five. She receives a salary for her role on the show, as well as exposure and recognition for her brand.
Relationship with Robbie Robertson
Janet Zuccarini is currently in a relationship with Robbie Robertson, a renowned musician, and songwriter who was a founding member of The Band. They met through mutual friends in Los Angeles and have been together since 2018. They divide their time between Toronto and Los Angeles.
According to the news search results, Robbie Robertson, the co-founder, songwriter, and guitarist of The Band, died at the age of 80 on Wednesday, August 9, 2023. He passed away in Los Angeles after a long illness, surrounded by his family. The exact cause of his death has not been revealed to the public, but some sources have speculated that he had prostate cancer
Philanthropy
Janet Zuccarini is also involved in various philanthropic initiatives through Gusto Gives Back, a program that supports local communities and causes. Some of the organizations that Gusto Gives Back has partnered with include Second Harvest, Covenant House, SickKids Foundation, Black Lives Matter, and Feed the Frontlines TO.
Wiki/BIO
| Name | Janet Zuccarini |
| Birth Date | B/W 48-52 years old (as of 2023) |
| Birth Place | Toronto, Canada |
| Partner | Robbie Robertson |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, Restaurateur, Top Chef Canada Judge |
| Education | Boston University |
| Net Worth | $15-18 million (approx.) |
| @janetzuccarini | |
| @janetzuccarini | |
| janetzuccarini | |
| Janet-Zuccarini | |
| Homepage | Dreshare.com |
Facts & Trivia
- Janet is the sole owner and visionary behind Gusto 54 Restaurant Group, which welcomes a million customers annually to its restaurants.
- Zuccarini is a resident judge on Food Network Canada’s Top Chef Canada, where she evaluates the contestants’ dishes and challenges them to excel.
- Janet Zuccarini opened her first restaurant, Café Nervosa, in Toronto’s Yorkville neighborhood in 1996. The restaurant, which was later renamed Trattoria Nervosa, became a success and a celebrity hotspot.
- Zuccarini expanded her restaurant empire with seven Toronto-based culinary concepts: Gusto 101, Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen, Gusto 54 Catering, Gusto 54 Commissary Kitchen, Pai Northern Thai Kitchen, Kiin, and Azhar.
- Janet ventured into the Los Angeles market with Felix Trattoria, which opened in 2017 on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice. Felix Trattoria, which features handmade pasta and authentic regional Italian dishes by chef Evan Funke, received rave reviews and awards from Esquire Magazine, Eater LA, and the James Beard Foundation.
- Zuccarini is currently in a relationship with Robbie Robertson, a renowned musician, and songwriter who was a founding member of The Band. They met through mutual friends in Los Angeles and have been together since 2018.
- Janet Zuccarini was born in Toronto, Canada, to an Italian father and a German mother. Her father, Giacomo Zuccarini, was an espresso machine importer who brought the first espresso machine to Canada in 1954. He also opened Sidewalk Caffè, a popular restaurant in Toronto that was later shut down by his dishonest business partner.
- Janet moved to Italy after high school and graduated with an undergraduate degree and an MBA from Boston University in Rome. She fell in love with the Italian culture and cuisine and learned to cook her grandmother’s recipes.
- Janet has been recognized for her leadership and entrepreneurship in the food industry. She won the Foodservice & Hospitality’s Pinnacle Award for “Independent Restaurateur of the Year” in 2017 and received the “TEC Canada Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship” from the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards. She was also featured on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list as the recipient of the American Express Business Leadership Award for 2020.
- Janet is involved in various philanthropic initiatives through Gusto Gives Back, a program that supports local communities and causes. Some of the organizations that Gusto Gives Back has partnered with include Second Harvest, Covenant House, SickKids Foundation, Black Lives Matter, and Feed the Frontlines TO.
- Janet Zuccarini defied her father’s advice to avoid the restaurant business, which caused a rift between them for a year. However, they eventually reconciled and he became proud of her accomplishments.
- Janet named her restaurant group Gusto 54 in tribute to the year her father first opened Sidewalk Caffè.
FAQs
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How old is Janet Zuccarini?
Zuccarini’s exact age is unknown, but she is estimated to be between 48 and 52 years old.
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How many restaurants does Janet Zuccarini own?
Zuccarini owns and operates eight restaurants under Gusto 54 Restaurant Group: Trattoria Nervosa, Gusto 101, Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen, Gusto 54 Catering, Gusto 54 Commissary Kitchen, Pai Northern Thai Kitchen, Kiin, and Azhar in Toronto; and Felix Trattoria in Los Angeles.
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