Rocco Dispirito is a James Beard award-winning, pioneering Food Network chef and number one New York bestselling author who is known for his unique approach to flavor as well as his dedication to proving that healthy and delicious are not mutually exclusive. Born in Queens, New York, Rocco grew up in a family with a passion for food, which inspired him to pursue a career in the culinary arts. He attended the Culinary Institute of America and began working in some of the best restaurants in the country, including the 3-star Michelin restaurant Jardin des Sens in France. In the late 1990s, Rocco was the executive chef of the Manhattan restaurant Union Pacific. His innovative and creative approach to cuisine earned him critical acclaim and multiple awards, including a coveted three-star review from The New York Times and Food & Wine magazine’s “Best New Chef.”
Most recently, DiSpirito appeared as both judge and competitor on Food Network’s Tournament of Champions, Guys Grocery Games, Guys Ranch Kitchen and his own Restaurant Divided. He was recently featured in the New York Times “Sunday Routine”. In
2019 he brought his creative vision and culinary talents to the iconic Standard Grill restaurant at The Standard, High Line. As Chef, he reimagined the menu, led a redesign of the dining room and elevated the kitchen with an expanded raw bar and new Binchotan-fired Josper grill from Spain. His celebrated return to a restaurant kitchen earned high praise, including a notable 2-star New York Times review. Rocco also delighted customers by featuring his signature Peconic Bay Scallops & Uni dish first served at his critically acclaimed 3- star restaurant, Union Pacific, which was a culinary landmark in NYC for many years.
He is the author of thirteen books, which have been translated into multiple languages and sold all over the world. 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. He has also authored New York Times bestsellers The Pound A Day Diet and The Negative Calorie Diet. His newest cookbook, Rocco’s Keto Comfort Food Diet, shows readers how to eat the foods you miss and still lose up to a pound a day.
He frequently appears as a special guest judge on television shows such as ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS’s The Talk, ABC’s The View, Extra, E! News and The Dr. Oz Show, The Tamron Hall Show, The Wendy Show, The Good Dish as well as many others. 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 has 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. He serves as an Ambassador for Health Corps, inspiring students at schools across the country to build healthier habits. He is an Entertainment Council member for Feeding America, advisor with Wellness in the Schools (WITS), as well as City Harvest, and frequent volunteer at food banks throughout NYC. 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.
