Celebrated both for his humanitarian efforts and his expertly crafted, classically inspired, rustic Italian cuisine, Chef Marc Vetri helped put Philadelphia’s burgeoning food scene securely on the map.
With five accomplished restaurants, two cookbooks and a growing charitable foundation that bears his name, Marc dedicates his time and talents to nourishing the appetites of diners and the intellectual development of Philadelphia youth. In addition to bringing gourmet, sit-down lunches to city schools, The Vetri Foundation’s mission is to help children understand the connection between healthy eating and healthy living.
"Once everybody reaches a certain level in their work, I think that it’s their responsibility to give back. It’s our duty as human beings."
Le Ricette Regionali Italiane by Frederic Bau “It’s the book you find in every home in Italy. There are no more precise recipes anywhere, and it also teaches you so much about Italian tradition."
“If you start with a great ingredient, half of the cooking is already done. It’s collaborative. All of us cooks talk. Someone has an idea, someone adds to it, and before you know it forms into a dish. From there, it’s just trial and error. It’s all about research."
On a recent trip to Boulder, Colorado, Marc stopped into The Peppercorn, a specialty food and kitchen store, to do some shopping. Not only did they have a wide selection of WÜSTHOF knives but the young man behind the counter was an up-and-coming chef and knife aficionado. He also happened to have a WÜSTHOF tattoo! It turns out this is Aaron Kirshner, who, at a young age, has already spent time in the kitchens of Eleven Madison Park, Le Bernadin and Moto. He even hosts his own weekly pop-up dinners in Boulder. This is one young man who truly wears his heart on his sleeve (or arm, if you will).
Starting his fine-dining restaurant Vetri didn't stop Marc from continuingly showing his love for pasta, pizza and other italian specialities. In the last few years he established places like Osteria, Amis, Alla Spina, Pizzeria Vetri and Lo Spiedo which all became well-known places in the restauran scene.
