Following graduation from the Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park, NY class of 78), Venezia was brought in as sous chef to the soon-to-open Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, where he was to work with former CIA classmate, Dean Fearing. Impressed with Venezias style, the hotels management company brought Venezia to Los Angeles as Executive Chef of the exclusive BEL AIR HOTEL, where he enjoyed a popular seven-year reign. While in Los Angeles, Venezia teamed up with Chef Wolfgang Puck, revamping menus and putting his mark on establishments such as DELICIAS in Rancho Santa Fe, MASONS in Brentwood and the newly renovated HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT HOTEL.
When Marcella Hazan got wind of Venezias talents, she hired him to head up her new kitchen at ...
