To describe him as merely ‘Organic’ or ‘Italian’ leaves you with no sense of this contemporary chef. A chef, an author, a restaurateur, a teacher, a sommelier, an artist, a visionary, Marco Porceddu possesses a passionate talent not often seen. His love of his art is demonstrated in his stunning plating techniques and savored in his dishes that showcase the essentia of ingredients. As author of the new iPhone cooking app ‘iEats’, Marco is bringing his recipes, techniques and tips into ever users hands. The ‘Accessible Chef’ plans to supply the ‘know how’ and confidence to ‘home chefs’ everywhere, in this era of digital communications. Call it a huge undertaking, or just another item to be checked off on Chef Marco’s growing list of accomplishments.
Marco hails from Sardinia Italy, an island steeped with a rich culinary history. This Mediterranean Isle has only known organic, instilling in Chef Marco a great appreciate and understanding of food’s natural essence. Marco’s fervor for food started in the family owned and run restaurants in Italy. While attending school he worked in the family restaurant and it was there that he learned the business from his father, and cultivated his culinary finesse from his mother. Having worked at five star resorts in Europe, Marco set his sights on the US.
Marco was an executive chef by the age of 23. He worked with renowned restaurateur, Franco Nuschese developing two fine dining restaurants and was hand-picked by gaming mogul Steve Wynn to create the award winning ‘Francesco’ named for Wynn’s then recently departed friend Frank Sinatra. While serving as Executive Chef, Marco was recognized by the James Beard Foundation.
Food journalist Max Jacobson recalls how he was first introduced to Marco.
“I first heard of Marco Porceddu 5 years ago, from no less a source than Wolfgang Puck. One evening while dining at Spago Beverly Hills, I asked Puck to recommend a restaurant other than his own in Vegas, and he replied without blinking “There’s this kid at Treasure Island who is the best Italian chef in the city”. He was talking about the Sardinian-born Porceddu, then chef at TI’s Francesco’s.”
He spent eight years with Steve Wynn then left to open his own award winning ‘Best Italian Restaurant’ and began consulting. His consulting firm,
Clearpoint Restaurant Solutions, has clients that have included Fortune 500 companies to trendy boutique style restaurants in the US and Mexico.
Marco’s desire to spread his zeal for both food and wine, lead him to becoming Food & Wine Editor for KVVU Fox TV affiliate, appearing in a regularly featured editorial; and to write the first in a series of digital cookbooks titled “iEats”. The stunning images found in iEats were photographed by Marco as well.
“I created iEats and iEats.tv for food and wine lovers everywhere. I want to share my passion and knowledge…I am the ‘Accessible Chef’!”
With an ability to inspire and an energy that’s contagious, who knows what’s next on the horizon for Chef Marco…but rest assured it will be ‘top-notch’!