Vinson Petrillo was raised in an Italian family in New Jersey, where festive Sunday dinners fostered his love for food and cooking at a young age. Inspired by the bold flavors he found at his family’s table, Petrillo headed south to attend Johnson and Wales University in Charleston where he graduated with a culinary degree.
After graduation, Petrillo moved to New York where he worked in some of the city’s best restaurants, including Caviar Russe and Abe & Arthur’s. Most recently, he served as chef de cuisine at Prospect, a Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient, in Brooklyn, N.Y. In addition to his impressive restaurant history, Petrillo is a two-time winner of Food Network’s Chopped and Chopped Champions, and was named to 2013 Zagat NYC’s “30 Under 30” list.
At Zero George Café + Bar, Petrillo shares his passion and appreciation for local ingredients through his contemporary, American style. In 2015, his innovative, technical cuisine won him the regional title at the San Pellegrino Young Chef competition. He traveled to Italy in June to compete in the international competition at the Expo Milano 2015, sharing the stage with the world’s best and brightest young chefs.
When he’s not in the kitchen, Petrillo can be found spending time with his wife and their baby daughter, Sawyer.