Salvo Lo Castro, Former lead chef for the Vatican. Award winning Sicilian chef.
Little Italy Podcast & Little Italy of LA Podcast
Release Date: 09/24/2025
Little Italy Podcast & Little Italy of LA Podcast
Bruno Serato, owner of the Anaheim White House Restaurant and founder of Caterina's Club, feeds literally thousands of children and families every day, and he's raising money so his Caterina's foundation can continue feeding literally thousands every day who would otherwise go hungry. And he joins us today to talk about it. Just last week, SoCal powerhouse radio station #KFIam640 (where my husband hosts the #JohnKobyltShow), teamed up with Bruno, Smart & Final, Wendy's, and De Cecco pasta to raise money and bunches of pasta and sauce so Bruno could continue doing what he does best -...
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There's a lot of talk about the changes in Hollywood, a city that has been at the center of moviemaking and TV production for nearly a century. So we invited producer and writer Alexia Melocchi, who co-authored the book, "The Heart of Show Business," to talk about what's really happening in this city of dreams. Alexia will discuss in detail a road map to navigating how work is getting done in this new era. "The Heart of Show Business" speaks with industry professionals from writers, directors, actors, athletes, and more, discussing how to stay ahead and win at every level. Each chapter offers...
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Got high cholesterol? There's ways to manage it, and I'll be speaking with nutrition expert Amy Riolo & Dr. Simon Poole about their latest book, "Managing Cholesterol for Dummies." This is a comprehensive look into how we can manage cholesterol, inflammation, and oxidation levels in our bodies, in addition to addressing who might be at cardiovascular risk and how to safely manage it. The duo will show us easy lifestyle changes and healthy recipes to incorporate into our every day lives. We will also discuss how to understand "good" and "bad" cholesterol, because a lot has changed in recent...
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Please welcome to our show internationally-acclaimed photographer, artist, and author Claudio Santini, whose thought-provoking work has inspired much reflection. When I visited Claudio in his Los Angeles studio recently, I felt I was in the presence of a true genius. His work spoke to me, including his latest collection, focused on capturing a quiet mental state to inspire a better humanity. Today, we'll speak to Claudio about his life and work, including an exhibit in Naples, Italy, currently running through December. Claudio was born and raised in Rome, Italy, and developed an early passion...
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When famed tenor and songwriter Pasquale Esposito was growing up in Naples, Italy, the music of Enrico Caruso would play throughout his house, inspiring him to sing at the local church in town. His dream was to come to America, to study and eventually perform. And that's exactly what he did. Fast forward twenty-five years, and Pasquale is now performing internationally to critical acclaim, and on Dec. 10, he'll perform along side world-renowned conductor Maestro Carlo Ponti on the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, California, presenting a magical Holiday concert of American and Italian traditions...
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Please welcome to our show James Tumminia, award-winning actor, producer, and lover of all things Italian, beloved for his role as Angelo in the TV series, "Melissa & Joey" and much more. And we'll be talking with James about his work and how he gets his fix of Italian food and culture in this great city of LA. As a kid growing up in an Italian-American neighborhood in Brooklyn, James Tumminia knew two things: he loved all things Italian, and he wanted to be an actor. And he's living both. I first met James at an event at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles, and noticed he seemed...
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We're so excited about this year's Newport Beach Film Festival from October 16-23, featuring over 100 film and 250 shorts from 32 countries. The festival opens with a screening of Richard Linklater’s “Blue Moon” starring Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Canavalle and Andrew Scott. The closing night film will include a screening of Guillermo Del Toro’s “Frankenstein," starring Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Oscar Isaac & Christoph Waltz. And for the International Film category, the Italian film, "When Mom Is Away...With The In-Laws" is already said to be a show stopper. We will be...
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Want to live longer? It's all about our food. In fact, "we are what we eat" isn't just a phrase about weight. Maura Fanti, researcher at USC's longevity institute, has been connecting the benefits of calculated fasting and metabolism, inflammation, and a healthier life, and she says to live longer, we need to give our digestive system a break. Please welcome Maura to our show, who joins us to discuss how fasting doesn't just help shed pounds, it can increase our life span, too. She talks about the benefits to our liver, which we know filters out toxins in our systems, and she wants people to...
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Italians are known for their vibrant culture worldwide, and when I hear the term, "it takes a village," I think of Vicky Colarossi Carabini, a woman who serves as her own village promoting Italian culture throughout Southern California. Please give a warm welcome to Vicky as one of our featured guests for Italian Heritage Month. Since 2007, Vicky Carabini has served as Ambassador to San Juan Capistrano’s Sister City, Capestrano, Italy. She is Chair of the Italian Studies Council and Board Member of the Ferrucci Institute at Chapman University, which has one of the most active Italian Studies...
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ine growing up in a small town in Sicily, dreaming of coming to America to open a restaurant, and surpassing all of your dreams? Chef Salvo Lo Castro did just that, where he began his culinary career at a young age in Sicily and now feeds the world from his NYC Soho restaurant, Casasalvo, considered a truly divine experience for the senses. Perhaps it's because Chef Salvo was formerly the lead chef at the Vatican for Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and now, we can eat like kings, royalty, and the spiritual leaders, too, at his magnificent new eatery. I'm honored to welcome Chef Salvo to...
info_outlineImagine growing up in a small town in Sicily, dreaming of coming to America to open a
restaurant, and surpassing all of your dreams? Chef Salvo Lo Castro did just that,
where he began his culinary career at a young age in Sicily and now feeds the world
from his NYC Soho restaurant, Casasalvo, considered a truly divine experience for the
senses. Perhaps it's because Chef Salvo was formerly the lead chef at the Vatican for
Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and now, we can eat like kings, royalty, and the
spiritual leaders, too, at his magnificent new eatery.
I'm honored to welcome Chef Salvo to our show, sharing not only his experiences in
the kitchen, but behind the scenes, too. He's cooked for the likes of Vadimir Putin, the
Saudi Royal family, Muammar Gaddafi, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro and dozens of
other world leaders, presidents, and celebrities. In fact, he's quoted as saying that
after a meal, some high-profile guests will surprise him in the kitchen and thank him
for a meal well served. Imagine!
We'll talk about Chef Salvo's start in the culinary world, and how he ended up cooking
at the Vatican after working around the world at top hotels and five-star Michelin
restaurants. He says he does not get star-struck, because to him, every guest is
treated like family. And no doubt, that's been part of his incredible success, along with
his hand-crafted pastas and sauces. Chef Salvo says his ingredients are all fresh or
from specialty farms with tradition in mind. He says he combines tradition with taste,
and creativity with authenticity. Among his favorite dishes? His mother's meatballs, a
recipe he cooks up to this day.
For Chef Salvo, owning a restaurant in N.Y. is a dream come true. He first opened
three espresso bars in the City which he still checks on each morning before riding
down to his restaurant in Soho on his Vespa. He spends 18-hours a day there, which
he calls home and his patrons invited guests. No doubt part of his success.
We're thrilled to welcome Chef Salvo into our home, particularly with Italian History
Month upon us. Please find my full interview with him on all video and audio platforms
of #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, and #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite
your friends, too. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome
you here.
@realchefsalvolocastro @casasalvonyc @casasalvorestaurant #italianfood
#italianchef #italianamerican #littleItaly