Salvatore Shigeta (born Salvatore Cuomo) is an Italian-born Japanese celebrity chef, restaurateur and media personality, known for his food-focused television shows and cookbooks, and his restaurants across Asia.

He is known in Japan as "The Pizza Man" and "The Grand Chef". He owns and operates Ystable Corporation, ownedtogether with Seizaburo Kanayama.

Early life 
Salvatore Cuomo was born in Naples, Italy, in 1972, the son of an Italian father and Japanese mother.

Cuomo was first inspired by his father who also was an Italian Chef in Naples. He began at the young age of 11, where he trained himself in the kitchen and traveled frequently between Italy and Japan.  He gradually learned how to blend the traditional Italian art of cooking with the Japanese art of perfection.

A few years later he travelled to Japan with his father who opened an Italian restaurant in Chiba in 1984. 
About those early years Salvatore told the press that it wasn't a good starting experience: "I didn’t like Japan at all, so after one year, I went back to Italy and spent 2–3 years studying at a culinary school. When I was 18, I returned to Japan after my father became terminally ill and I have been here ever since."
Cuomo said that Italian Cuisine was just starting to get popular in those days. He and his two brothers decided that in order to succeed in the restaurant business in Japan they would have to understand the Japanese food mentality. They spent a couple of years researching the market before opening a new restaurant in Tokyo with what Cuomo calls "Original Neapolitan pizza."

Since that time, Cuomo has been credited with catapulting Neapolitan pizza to fame in Japan, and today in all Asia.

Career 
His first job was as a pizzaiolo in Naples, where he first gained experience with preparing pizzas and Italian dishes, and developed a relationship with his mentor, his father.

Cuomo has been credited with catapulting Neapolitan pizza to fame in Japan, and today he operates and supervises more than 77 Pizza Salvatore restaurants, and five The Kitchen Salvatore Cuomo restaurants (in Kyoto, Nagoya and Shanghai, Seoul Korea), as well as Salvatore Cuomo Bros (under the umbrella of XEX), BOTTEGA casual dining, Café al Grazie, and Italiaichiba Bar establishments.

Cuomo has made numerous guest appearances on TV programs such as Iron Chef and Buona Sera, an Italian cooking program on WOWOW.

He has written three books: Welcome to Neapolitan Dining Table (1995), Happy Pasta (1997), Sun’s Dining Table (1999), One Life (2010), #PIZZAUNESCO 2016 (2016), #PIZZAUNESCO 2017 (2017)

In 2010, the Yucasee Newspaper reported Salvatore Cuomo collaborating with 辻口博啓氏 Tsujikuchi Hiroshi Akira, Japanese chef patissier-chocolatier.
In March 2014, ANA (All Nippon Airways) joins Salvatore Cuomo
Chef Cuomo said numerous times to be very careful that all his outside activities do not take him out of the kitchen for too long. "It's very important to stay in my chef's uniform. I may be a CEO but the kitchen is my second home. You can only understand the feelings of your customers by being there, not just by asking staff."

In December 2013, Tsujikuchi Hiroshi chef at Le Chocolat de H (Japan), owned by Salvatore Cuomo, wins the highest award for a Pastry Chef at the Salon Du Chocolat, International Pastry Competition held in Paris.

In February 2014, Salvatore Cuomo opened his first restaurant in Taiwan. TVBS reported that the chef's move would help the country with an injection of $70 million in the economy.

Paul Huaug, pizzaiolo working for Chef Cuomo won the Caputo Cup (Taipei) in May 2014. Paul Huang is the first officially recognised Taiwanese pizzaiolo by the Italian Neapolitan Pizzaiolo Association). Always the same month Salvatore Cuomo appears on Vogue Taiwan and Taiwanese Television storm the restaurant for the weeks after the competition as first Taiwanese Pizza Maker wins an international competition for the first time in the history of the country.

In June 2014, Taiwanese magazine Bazar named Cuomo the best thing that landed in Taiwan in 2014.

TV and media 
Salvatore started doing TV in Japan, hosting a TV cooking program on major television and smaller channels.

Every new opening is still today carefully followed by the Japanese Media

In June 2010, Chinese Magazine Sina Fashion calls Salvatore "a gift from Naples" after the success of the first VPN Accredited Neapolitan Restaurant in mainland China.

In February 2013 South Korean editor Ju Younguk describes the moment Pizza first arrived in the country in 1985 as if history repeated itself with the first Salvatore Cuomo Restaurant opening in Korea. 
The food critic talks about Salvatore visiting local artisans in order to reproduce the authentic wood oven to bake pizza in Korea too, titleing him "a treat Precious in taste"

In 2013 XEX Tokyo Restaurant owned by Salvatore Cuomo was described by Anthony Bourdain during his show Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Tokyo, on the Travel Channel as the final destination for the Japanese elite.
In 2019 Arirang TV Documentary about Chef Salvatore Cuomo In Busan Korea Travel Channel

Awards and honours 

In June 2004 awarded by the ICF Worldwide Italian Cuisine Ambassador. A proponent of fresh italian cuisine, Cuomo was named the most influential Italian person in Japan.

In 2006, 2007 and 2008, Chef Cuomo placed in the first 3 positions at the International Pizza Festival held in Naples World Pizza Championship.

In 2009, he was honored Chevallier by the ORDRE DES COTEAUX DE CHAMPAGNE in recognition to his economic help to the wine industry and expansion of Italian and French products in Asia.

In 2010, he was named World Wide 1st. Ambassador of Mozzarella Bufala Campana.

In 2013 was awarded Parma Ham Specialist by the Parma Ham Prosciutto for his high quality restaurants where Parma Ham is used and his contribution to the industry.

In 2017 UNESCO Committee Member of the Neapolitan Pizza Association: Listing of the Art of Neapolitan Pizza Making on UNESCO'S Intangible Cultural

2020-2023 San Pellegrino-Acqua Panna Brand Ambassador in Japan

Other 

2020-2023 San Pellegrino-Acqua Panna Brand Ambassador in Japan 
 2017 UNESCO'S Committee Member of the Neapolitan Pizza Association: Listing of the Art of Neapolitan Pizza Making on UNESCO'S Intangible Cultural Heritage Loist in Cheju Iland Korea
 2016 Asia Team Leader - Longest Pizza in the World in Naples, Italy, Guinness World Records 2014 Parma Ham Specialist 
 2013 APN Ambassador in Asia2012 Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne (Officier)2010 Shanghai EXPO EXECUTIVE CHEF Casa Italia
 2009 Verace Pizza Napoletana Ambassador in the world. Pizza World Championship 3rd Classified PIZZA FEST NAPLES
 2008 Pizza World Championship 2nd. Classified PIZZA FEST NAPLES 
 2007 Pizza World Championship 1st. Classified PIZZA FEST NAPLES

Books 
 Welcome to Neapolitan Dining Table (1995) 
 Happy Pasta (1997) – Japanese Only 
 Sun’s Dining Table (1999) 
 One Life (2010) 
 #PizzaUnesco (2016-2017)

References 
  2019 feb. Arirang TV Korea Documentary aout Chef Salvatore Cuomo in Busan

Further reading 
Japan Today, The Pizza Man at Japan Today
Spice with style on the side at Japan Times.
 Salvatore Cuomo arrives in Taiwan – Issue 203 – 2014/03/01 in Taipei Walker Magazine.
 Vouge. Restaurant of the month.
 Vogue talks about The Kitchen Restaurant of Salvatore Cuomo, The New Shanghai.

External links 

 
Biography at Tokyo Families, February 2011.

Italian chefs
Italian male bloggers
Italian food writers
Italian people of Japanese descent
Living people
Businesspeople from Naples
1972 births
Japanese television chefs
Expatriate television personalities in Japan
살바토레 시제타(Salvatore Shigeta, )는 이탈리아에서 태어난 일본인 피자 셰프이자 스타 셰프, 레스토랑 경영자, 미디어 인사이다. 그는 음식을 주로 다루는 TV 쇼들과 요리책으로 유명하고, 아시아 전역에 걸친 그의 레스토랑들로도 잘 알려져 있다. 일본에서 그는 “피자맨”으로도 잘 알려져 있다.

어린 시절 
살바토레 쿠오모는 이탈리아 나폴리에서 1972년에 이탈리아인 아버지와 일본인 어머니 사이에서 태어났다.

쿠오모는 나폴리에서 이탈리아 셰프였던 그의 아버지에게서 영향(영감)을 받았다. 11살의 어린 나이에 그는 주방에서 훈련하기 시작했고 이탈리아와 일본을 자주 오고 갔다. 그의 아버지는1984년도에 일본 지바에 이탈리안 레스토랑을 열었고, 아버지를 따라 쿠오모는 십대의 나이에 일본으로 가게 되었다. 살바토레는 다시 이탈리아로 돌아간 뒤 요리 학교에서 공부하는데 다음 2년을 보냈다. 18살이 되던 해 아버지가 병으로 위독해지고 난 뒤, 살바토레는 다시 일본으로 돌아왔고 그때부터 계속 일본에 살게 되었다.

활동 
살바토레 쿠오모는 나폴리 피자를 아시아에서 유명하게 만들어 인정받게 되었다. 그리고 현재는 100여군데 이상의 레스토랑을 경영하고 감독하고 있다. 77개의 피자 살바테로 레스토랑, 5군데의 살바토레 쿠오모 주방 레스토랑 (쿄토, 나고야, 샹하이, 서울), 그리고 살바토레 쿠오모 브로스 (XEX의 아래로) 보테가 BOTTEGA 패밀리 레스토랑,  CAFÉ AL GRAZIE, 그리고 Italiaichiba BAR (이탈리아 이치바) 가 바로 그들이다.

쿠오모는 여러 가지 TV 프로그램에 게스트로도 출연했었는데, 그 출연 작으로는 아이론 셰프, 아이론 셰프 일본, 그리고 부오나 세라(Buona Sera, WOWOW의 이탈리아 요리 프로그램 등이 있다.

또 쿠오모는 <나폴리식 식탁으로의 초대> (Welcome to Neapolitan Dining Table) (1995), <기쁨의 파스타> (Happy Pasta) (1997), 그리고 <태양의 식탁> (Sun’s Dining Table) (1999) 외 세 권의 책을 냈다.

2010년에는 유카세 신문에서 살바토레 쿠오모와 일본의 파티시에 초콜릿 요리사, 辻口博啓氏 쓰지쿠치 히로시 아키라 와의 콜라보를 담기도 하였다.
2014년 3월, ANA ( 전일본공수 ) 가 살바토레 쿠오모와 함께 했다.

2013년 12월에는, 살바토레 쿠오모가 소유한 le Chocolat de H (일본) 레스토랑의 쓰지쿠치 히로시 요리사가 파리에서 열린 국제 패스트리 대회에서 패스트리 요리사가 받을 수 있는 가장 높은 상을 거머쥐었다.

2014년 2월, 살바토레 쿠오모는 타이완에 그의 가장 첫 레스토랑을 열었다. TVBS는 쿠오모의 이러한 움직임이 본국의 경제에 7천만 달러의 효과를 투여할 것이라고 보고했다.

쿠오모 요리사 밑에서 일하는 피자 셰프, 폴 후어그는 2014년 5월에 (타이베이)에서 열린 카푸토 컵에서 우승을 거머쥐었다. 폴 후어그는 이탈리아 나폴리 피자 셰프 협회에서 처음으로 공식 인정한 타이완 피자 셰프가 되었다. (APN)

오늘날, 살바토레 쿠오모는 Y’s Table Corporation 의 부위원장, 최고 업무 직행 책임자, 그리고 이그제큐티브 셰프이다. (도쿄 증권거래소 시장 N.2798).

2016년, 국회감사원의 멤버인 알폰소 페코라로 스카니오와 함께, 쿠오모는 나폴리 피자의 유네스코의 문화유산 목록 등록을 위해 홍보대사로 일하기 시작하였다..

TV와 미디어 
살바토레는 일본, 한국, 타이완, 필리핀, 이탈리아, 미국 및 중국의 주요 TV 요리 프로그램 등에 나오며 TV 활동을 시작했다. 그리고 소규모 채널들.

책 
 나폴리식 식탁으로의 초대 Welcome to Neapolitan Dining Table (1995 ) 
 기쁨의 파스타 Happy Pasta ( 1997 ) – 일본어 번역 
 태양의 식탁 Sun’s Dining Table ( 1999 )

참고

추가 참고 도서 목록 
 Pizza Cuomo Arrives In Okinawa at 帝新聞 Mikado Shimbun
Japan Today, 피자맨 at Japan Today
멋을 곁들인 양념 의 Japan Times.
 살바토레 쿠오모가 타이완에 도착하다 – 203호 - 2014/03/01 타이페이 워커 매거진.
 Vouge. 이달의 레스토랑.
 Vogue가 살바토레 쿠오모의 주방 레스토랑에 대해 이야기하다 ( Salvatore Cuomo ) , The New Shanghai.
Gentleman & Ladies 의 Facebook Page
Gentleman & Ladies 의 XEX Group Website

외부 링크 

 
 살바토레의 레스토랑 Bazar Taiwanese 매거진.
아이론 셰프 팬 정보
전기 의 토쿄 패밀리, 2011년 2월.

일본계 이탈리아인
이탈리아의 요리사
이탈리아의 블로거
이탈리아의 텔레비전 진행자
살아있는 사람
나폴리 출신
1972년 출생