Donatello Owner Gino Tiozzo on the Restaurant's 40-Year Anniversary, How to Cook Better Italian Food at Home and What Happened When Rapper Drake Showed Up for Dinner on Short Notice

What do the rapper Drake, basketball player Magic Johnson and countless Floridians have in common? They've all enjoyed a meal at Donatello in Tampa. The Italian restaurant was started in 1984 by the late Guido Tiozzo, a native of Venice, Italy. Today, Guido’s son Gino Tiozzo is at the helm, balancing classic Italian dishes with customers’ ever-changing expectations.This week, The Zest continues our celebration of Italian-American Heritage Month with a visit to Donatello. On a quiet morning, Dalia stopped by the dining room to chat with Gino. In this conversation, he reflects on the restaurant’s 40-year history, reveals the one dish he’ll never take off the menu and offers advice for cooking better Italian meals at home.Related episodes:Learn to Make Neapolitan PizzaCouples in the Kitchen: Melissa Santell & Bryce BonsackPasta Packs Co-Founders Nic & Greg Bryon on Pandemic Dinner Parties, the Flour Your Pantry Needs and Cooking While Black