Salvatore Taormina, chef and proprietor, was born in Palermo, Sicily. He attended the Santa Lucia Sabbie d'Oro in Cefalu, Sicily, where he earned top honors for three years. The Director/Chef of this institution was Cavalier Francesco Paolo Cascino, winner of the Piltti D'Oro (GOlden Plate) Award for ten consecutive years.
Upon graduation, Salvatore honed his craft working in restaurants in Udina, Padua, and Palermo before coming to New York, where he was employed in several established restaurants in the New York and New Jersey area.