Chef Giovanni Mazzone

Giovanni Mazzone hails originally from Pietrastornina, a small town near Naples in Italy. His parents ran an inn with a restaurant and a coffee bar / gelateria called Bar Fortunato and so Giovanni was born into the food service industry. He has been active and one of South Africa’s most respected chefs since 1964. His career that started in humble Pizzerias and the first wood burning pizza oven in South Africa, has spanned several important chef positions including the original Sardi’s Club 1000, Toty’s at the Carlton, and the founding in 1976 of the mythical Giovanni’s in Pretoria, the restaurant many credit with starting the Italian food craze in earnest in South Africa.

After many subsequent branches of Giovanni’s, he realized a dream by opening a top haute cuisine Italian establishment called Ritrovo in partnership with his son Fortunato, also a chef, in March 1995. This father and son combo have gone on to amass a series of foodie awards across the spectrum these last fourteen years and seen Ritrovo establish itself as one of South Africa’s most pre-eminent restaurants and a regular feature in the list of the top 10 South African restaurants.

Several commis chefs have been under Giovanni's wings these last few years, including some young talent from South Africa’s most famous chef schools. He made his TV debut on SABC 2 in 2004, teaching viewers about the real, classic Pizza. Not only a mentor to his son, he is a well-respected and popular teacher of classic Italian Cooking skills to many student chefs who do their practicals at Ritrovo.

His life continues to be exciting and relevant cementing his position as one of the pillars of the Italian Culinary establishment. For his contributions to the art of Italian Cuisine, and adherence to the traditions of the classic Italian Kitchen in the outside world, Giovanni received an award from the Italian Government in 2005. Giovanni appeared in the 2007 Sunday Times BBC Food show, presenting Pizza Maestros.