CHEF STEVE SAMSON

Sotto, Los Angeles, CA – Chef/Owner
Pizzeria Ortica, Costa Mesa – Executive Chef and Partner
Sona Restaurant (* ), West Hollywood, CA

Piero Selvaggio Restaurant Group

Valentino Restaurant, Santa Monica, CA – Executive Chef
Posto Restaurant, Sherman Oaks, CA – Executive Chef
Valentino, Las Vegas, NV – Executive Sous Chef

Various stages at Michelin-rated restaurants in Italy

Quattro Passi (* ), Sorrento, Italy
Torre del Saraceno (** ), Vico Equense, Italy
Il Duomo ( **), Ragusa, Sicily
Dal Pescatore (*** ), Canneto sull’Olio, Italy
La Sora Lela, Rome, Italy
Il Cascinale Nuovo (* ), Isola d’Asti, Italy

ACCOLADES/AWARDS
2011 Esquire Magazine Best New Restaurant, Sotto
2011 Angeleno Magazine Best New Dish, Porcetto
2010 Rising Star Southern California, Star Chefs
2009 Best Pizza Orange County, OC Weekly [Ortica]
2009 Best Pizza Orange County, Riviera Magazine [Ortica]
2009 Best Italian Restaurant Orange County, OC Weekly [Ortica]
Institute of Culinary Education Alumni, Hall of Achievement Inductee, 2005
American Culinary Federation Chef of the Year, 2003

Los Angeles Times Reviews

Pizzeria Ortica, 2.5 star review
Valentino, 3 star review
Posto, 2 star review
Posto, Top 40 Dishes, two years in a row

Other Press Reviews

Orange Coast Magazine: Ranked #4 Restaurant in Orange County
Orange County Register: Pizzeria Ortica, 3 star review

EDUCATION

Institute of Culinary Education, New York, NY, Blue Ribbon Graduate
Columbia University, Post Baccalaureate, Pre-Medical Program
University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, B.A., History
University of Venice, Ca’ Foscari, Venice, Italy, Special Studies, Italian History and Culture

 

*Michelin stars