OWNER FIORE COLELLA

Born in Avellino, a small rural town in Southern Italy, Fiore Colella, learned at a very young age that his passions in life lie far beyond the borders of his small hometown.

In 1970 at the age of twelve Fiore immigrated to America. At a little restaurant on Hanover Street in Boston’s North End neighborhood Fiore was given a job as a dishwasher. Realizing that being a dishwasher was not enough to quench his insatiable desire to make his life better Fiore concentrated on learning English and learning how to cook. Through perseverance and determination he was promoted to pizza chef. Within ten years Fiore took the biggest gamble of his life and bought this little restaurant when it went up for sale and made it into one of the most recognizable landmarks on Hanover Street. Many restaurants have come and gone since Fiore bought Cantina Italiana, but the authentic quality of the food, combined with the comfortable Mediterranean atmosphere have kept the customers returning year after year. In 2000 Fiore realized another dream when he opened Ristorante Fiore in the location he had walked by on his way to wash dishes as a teenager believing that one day his restaurant and dreams would stand in the place of the music store that occupied it.

When asked where Fiore learned to cook he won’t admit the hard work that has led him to the point in his life he is at. However, watching him in the kitchen either creating special dishes for friends or customers you not only get to experience the passion that led him to be as successful as he is, but you sense the love he has for food.