Mario Buccellati is a plant-forward chef based in New York City, who specializes in private tasting menus and restaurant consultation.
His work blends modern Italian technique with global influence, guided by seasonality.
He draws inspiration from working for more than a decade in hospitality and his travels abroad.
In May 2025, Mario appeared on the hit TV cooking competition: Chopped where he made it to the fiinal round on the “Carnivore Converter” episode.
During the 2020 lockdown, Mariolino’s was created. A plant-based Italian delivery concept that brought fresh pasta, sauces, vegan cheeses and desserts to more than 500 households. Mario later shared his expertise as a guest chef at the NYC VegFest and Symposium, teaching a hands-on fresh pasta workshop.
In 2023 and 2024, he served as Chef de Cuisine for City Roots Hospitality. In this role, he oversaw six restaurants and the company’s commissary kitchen. He helped launch Manhattan concepts like Anixi and Sentir, while developing the menus for Beyond Sushi, Coletta, and Willow.
Mario also refined his skills at Michelin-recognized restaurants: Avant Garden and Dirt Candy.
In October 2025, Mario traveled to Prague for a culinary residency with Chutnej, one of the city’s leading plant-based restaurants. Invited to consult on menu development and creative direction, he crafted an original five-course experience for eighty guests, blending Central European seasonality with his signature mushroom-forward, elegant Italian technique.
In 2019, Mario embarked on a transformative journey to Italy, eager to reconnect with his heritage and expand his expertise in plant-based cooking.
During his time in the small Tuscan town of Lucca, he immersed himself in the art of making fresh pastas, sauces, breads, and desserts at the macrobiotic school Gioia di Vivere.
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Every summer, Mario hosts long form tasting menu experiences called the Eight Eat Experience.
Each dinner brings together eight guests for an eight-course journey crafted entirely from scratch, blending seasonality, modern cooking technique, and ingredients from the garden.
The experience has become a defining expression of Mario’s philosophy, inviting guests into a multi-sensory world where food, storytelling, and connection come together.
Bring your favorite people together around the table for a special meal.
