CHEF GIANBA

Gianbattista "Gianba" Vinzoni discovered his love of cooking as a child while spending time in the kitchen with his grandmother. Although he was born in Broni, a small town in the Lombardia region of Italy, his family has been living in Bonassola, in the Cinque Terre region, dating back to the 1400s. As a young man he loved watching his grandmother cooking. She regularly made fresh pasta, stomped grapes for homemade wine, picked olives for pressing olive oil, and raised her own chickens, rabbits, and pigs. After working hard all day she would then serve the most amazing family meals while enjoying time with friends and family. 

After a five year career as an Italian Navy Seal, Gianba began working in a kitchen. What started out as a joke soon became a passion and a lifelong career. It wasn't easy, considering he started out with zero experience, but he worked his way through the ranks, and his cooking and experience expanded when he moved to Los Angeles in 1995. He learned that he was able to transfer his love for pressure and the sense of urgency that he experienced as a Navy Seal into working in some of the finest kitchens in Italy and Los Angeles.

Under the patience and experienced guidance of the many great chefs with whom he has worked, Gianba established himself as both an accomplished chef and manager. He served as Head Chef at the Soho House in West Hollywood, Executive Sous Chef at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, and Executive Chef at Fig and Olive. While at the Beverly Hilton he was the Executive Sous Chef for large events such as the Golden Globes for three years in a row. 

While Gianba thrived working in so many established restaurants and with so many esteemed chefs, he longed to open his own restaurant. In March 2019, Gianba saw an opportunity and grabbed it. He can now be found seven days a week behind the counter at Cinque Terre West, the proud Chef-Owner. 

He has lived in the Pacific Palisades since 2001 with his wife Marlo and two children and loves it just as much as he loves his childhood home back in Italy. At Cinque Terre West, Gianba will be bringing simple and delicious food inspired by his childhood and local California cuisine to the Palisades Village.