The journey from a modest beginning in his native Bergamo, Italy  to Las Vegas was a long one for Luciano Pellegrini. And the  journey of juggling school hours with those spent working in restaurants, to that of receiving the prestigious honor of Best Chef in The Southwest by the James Beard Foundation was a much  longer journey.

Pellegrini pursued an ambitious career during his early years working as a chef in Italy and America. At the age of 13 when most boys are interested in playing soccer, the dedicated aspiring chef parlayed his interest, along with the cooking experiences learned in his mother's kitchen, into enrollment at the prestigious San Pellegrino hotel school in Italy.

It's all about Italian fine dining. Pellegrini gained insight into fine dining while working at the Michelin rated  "Locanda dell' Angelo" in his native Italy. He also worked closely with some of the most reputable chefs in the world. Those renowned European chefs include GianFranco, Vissani, Fulio Angelini, Paulo DiMauro, and Nadia Santini.

No doubt, the perfection of his culinary skills had been an ongoing process, as the journey continued for Pellegrini when, in 1985, he accepted a position with restaurateur Piero Selvaggio' Primi, and Posto restaurants in Southern California. It was at Posto that Pellegrini catapulted the popular restaurant into 4-star rating by the Los Angeles Daily News.  While at Posto, the James Beard Foundation had recognized him among the Top 10 chefs in Los Angeles, a recognition he held for six consecutive years.

Fast forward to the year 1999 with the debut of The Venetian Resort, and the opening of Piero Selvaggio's Valentino restaurant. Chef Pellegrini took charge in quickly applying his creative skills that in large part contributed to the restaurant's success. Valentino, Las Vegas consistently ranks among the top Italian restaurants in the nation. Numerous culinary and wine awards continue to be garnered by Valentino and Pellegrini.

Chef Pellegrini has definitely raised the level for Italian fine dining. He is now a partner in Valentino receiving rave reviews by local critics and national publications including Bon Appetit, and Gourmet Magazines.

He is also a partner, with Selvaggio, in the contemporary causal dining venue, Georgio Café & Ristorante at Mandalay Place. The chef applies the same degree of expertise, creativity, and versatility to casual dining as to fine dining.

In the years, 2003 and 2004, Pellegrini was the only Las Vegas chef nominated by the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef in The Southwest. It was his nomination in 2004 that resulted in this prestigious award. National recognition as this, is testimony that Las Vegas, with its' top chefs and celebrity restaurateurs, has earned its' status as a dining capital in the nation, if not the world.

The award recognizes the chef for setting new or consistent standards of excellence. Adding to the significance of the James Beard Foundation Award is their peers nominate and selected the winners. 

The James Beard Foundation Awards has been described as "the Oscars of the culinary profession". The foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to furthering the practice and appreciation of the culinary arts.

A journey is a means to a destination, and upon reaching that destination the journey will end. Given the passion, dedication, and culinary expertise of Pellegrini's journey as a professional chef, it is unlikely that he will reach finality in terms of a destination, but will continue the journey with greater culinary contributions and achievements.

Visit Valentino Italian Restaurant at The Venetian or Georgio Café & Ristorante at Mandalay Place and experience the outstanding cuisine of the Best Chef in the Southwest.