Kitchen Confidential: In Conversation with Chef Jimmy about Life, the Universe and Umbrian cuisine
A Culinary Journey Across Continents
Where did you train and begin your career?
“I had a long apprenticeship between Brazil, Argentina and Spain — especially Ibiza and Barcelona — before returning to Italy. I also completed a Master’s in Creative Italian Cuisine and trained in wok cookery in Bangkok.”
His path reads like a map of flavour. South America, Spain, Southeast Asia, then back to Italy. Each stop adding technique, perspective, restraint.
Yet the foundation was already set long before.
A Family Tradition Since 1889
Where does your passion for cooking come from?
“My family have been restaurateurs since 1889 in Liguria.”
Liguria is a crescent-shaped region in northwest Italy, hugging the Mediterranean Sea between the French border and Tuscany. It stretches along what is famously known as the Italian Riviera.
Ligurian food is light, aromatic, and herb-driven. It is Mediterranean but restrained. It is less about heavy sauces, more about freshness and olive oil.
Generations of kitchens. Generations of service. Generations of watching guests arrive hungry and leave content.
Cooking, in this context, is my heritage.
Defining His Culinary Style
How would you describe your culinary style?
“I follow a classical style, but I am always ready to invent. Creative cuisine is dominant for me, but always with local products, preferably zero km.”
There is structure, but never rigidity.
Chef Jimmy works primarily with km0 ingredients, meaning produce sourced as close as possible to where it is prepared. In Umbria and Tuscany, this philosophy is deeply connected to slow living. Markets dictate menus. Seasons lead decisions. Ingredients travel lightly from field to plate.
He enjoys cooking meat, yet vegetables play a central role. As a Tuscan, he feels most connected to the regional dishes of his homeland: rustic soups, slow-cooked meats, grilled specialities, and seasonal produce treated simply but intelligently.
The result is cuisine that feels grounded, generous, and unmistakably regional.
The Importance of Surprise
What matters most when cooking for guests?
“Guests must always be surprised by something beautiful and innovative. Good presentation is important, but above all, an excellent explanation of the dishes.”
For Jimmy, the plate is not complete until the story is told.
An ingredient sourced locally. A technique learned abroad. A regional tradition honoured. Each dish becomes a conversation between the chef, the land, and, of course, the guests.
Beyond the Villa: Life at the Circolo
When he is not creating private chef dinners at Villa Gioiella, Chef Jimmy runs a popular local kitchen at the village circolo near Lake Trasimeno.
In Italy, a circolo is more than a restaurant. It is the social heart of the community. Neighbours gather for coffee, conversation, and seasonal Umbrian cuisine served without pretence. It is informal, welcoming, and deeply rooted in village life.
Here, Chef Jimmy prepares an ever-changing menu of traditional Umbrian and Tuscan dishes as well as delicious pizza for locals who certainly understand regional food! Alongside the kitchen, he operates a trusted home delivery service, bringing freshly prepared meals to families throughout the surrounding countryside.
For guests staying at Villa Gioiella, this matters. Your private chef is not removed from the rhythms of real Italian life. He is cooking within a living culinary community, respected by those who dine with him every week.
That authenticity travels from the village kitchen to your table.
The Villa Gioiella Experience
At Villa Gioiella, Chef Jimmy’s dinners unfold in the courtyard under open skies or in villa. Seasonal menus shift with the markets. Your olive oil was harvested in the garden. Wines are chosen to echo the land.
It is not restaurant dining. It is a private dialogue between place and plate.
Reserve an Evening to Remember
From Ligurian heritage to Tuscan fields, Chef Jimmy brings generations of hospitality to your table.
During your stay at Villa Gioiella, you can enjoy a bespoke private dinner designed around seasonal Umbrian and Tuscan ingredients, under the stars or inside the villa.
Learn more about Villa Gioiella Signature Dining Experiences HERE
Add a Private Chef Evening to your booking and let the story unfold course by course.
And when the evening draws to a close, what remains is not just a meal, but a deeper connection to Umbria itself.
