The kitchen at the Casa Italiana, Italian Cultural Center in Burien has a new heartbeat, and it pulses with a global rhythm. Lorenzo Rizzo, the newly appointed chef, is redefining the center’s culinary identity by drawing on a life story that spans continents and transcends traditional communication barriers. Born in Montecorvino Pugliano, a small town in Salerno, Italy, Rizzo’s path to Burien was anything but direct, winding through the hospitality scenes of Germany, England, Ireland, Spain, Aruba, and New York.

A Unique Foundation: The Language of Connection

Rizzo’s "cosmopolitan" perspective—a term often applied to him during his decade in New York—was forged in a home where communication was visual. Raised by deaf parents, Rizzo’s first language was sign language, a skill he still uses to communicate with his family in Italy via video calls. This upbringing, he believes, gave him a unique "vision" for understanding diverse people.

“In my personality, maybe something the influence was totally different because they give me more opportunity to understand other cultures in a different way,” Rizzo explains regarding his parents. He views food as the ultimate extension of this communication: “The best way to understand another culture is travel, meeting people... and food and wine”.

A Global Resume Meets Local Passion

Rizzo’s professional pedigree is as varied as his passport. He grew up in his family’s restaurants in Salerno and Munich, later attending hospitality schools in both Italy and the Alps. His career includes a tenure with Jumeirah, a luxury hotel brand from Dubai, where he worked at iconic resorts in Ireland and Mallorca, Spain.

It was in Galway, Ireland, that he met his wife, a Venezuelan orthodontist; they later moved to Brooklyn, where their son was born, before eventually finding a home in Washington. “Washington absorbs you very well,” Rizzo says of his new home. “I’m really in love with Washington”.

Elevating Casa Italiana: Quality Over Quantity

At Casa Italiana, Rizzo is starting with a focused menu of panini, salads, pastries, and authentic Italian coffee, emphasizing high-quality ingredients imported directly from Italy. His current offerings include a gluten-free chocolate almond Caprese cake and a Burrata salad featuring heirloom tomatoes.

Rizzo is firm about his culinary standards, often prioritizing authenticity over convenience. For instance, while he will press a sandwich if a guest insists, he generally advises against it for certain ingredients. “I’m trying to selling not a lot of stuff—less but great stuff,” he says. “I want the people come back for my product... and the quality stuff, that's what we're using”.

His plans for the café now newly named Rizzo Piazza are ambitious. Within the next few months, he intends to introduce:

• Aperitivo Evenings: Friday nights featuring wine, beer, and elaborate "antipasto platters" that include fried elements like arancini and croquettes.
• Expanded Menu: Lasagna and baked pasta dishes once the kitchen capabilities are stabilized.
• Enhanced Coffee Program: New drinks like the "Spatulino," an espresso topped with tiramisu foam.

The Lorenzo Rizzo Kitchen Experience

Central to his vision is the integration of his catering business, the Lorenzo Rizzo Kitchen Experience. (Find them on Instagrame here) This venture will serve as the engine for the café’s growth, supplying prepared items like lasagna and specialty pasta trays for customers to take home.

For those hosting events, Rizzo offers a "Pasta Bar" featuring trays of Mafaldine with a beef and pork ragu or Cavatellito with pork sausage and mushrooms. He also brings his love for Spanish cuisine, his favorite food, to the catering side, offering authentic paella.

Ultimately, Rizzo’s work at Casa Italiana is driven by a philosophy of balance. “You work for your life. You don't live for your work,” he asserts. By bringing his global expertise and "German-style" professional discipline to the Italian Cultural Center, he is not just serving food; he is building relationships. “I’m very lucky because people love me,” he says, “and this is cool”.

Web: CasaItalianaCC.org
Email: info@CasaItalianaCC.org
Phone: 206-735-7152

Location: 13028 First Ave. S.
Burien WA 98168