He is actually his grandfather’s original family surname. When his grandfather moved to the US from Italy, he changed the spelling. In honor of his grandfather, he changed his last name when he got married in 1995.
Here are some interesting facts about him that many people may not be aware of. Five years before he won “Food Network Star,” he was employed at a company that specialized in mufflers and other car components. He appeared in a couple of commercials for the company, but he was a more toned-down version of the lively TV personality we see today.
