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On today’s Farm to Table special edition of Atlanta Business Radio we interviewed Constanzo Astarita and talked with him about the C&M Gastronomy Group that he started with friend Mario Maccarone.
Costanzo Astarita / C&M Gastronomy Group. Costanzo hails from the Island of Capri, off the coast of Italy, where he was born into a food-centric family. Steeped in a culture rich in fresh ingredients from land and sea, the long line of chefs practiced an innovative culinary lifestyle focused on quality and creativity.
When Astarita’s family immigrated to Bermuda, he honed his skills at The Bermuda Culinary School. During his education, Astarita cooked for a veritable who’s who of dignitaries and movers and shakers. From Princess Margaret and President George H. W. Bush to legendary music producer Robert Stigwood and others, leaders the world over have lauded Astarita’s skill.
Astarita continued his education in the United Kingdom where he immersed himself in a vigorous culinary environment. He then settled in Georgia in 1989 and became the food and beverage director at Chateau Elan.
After revamping the resort’s culinary efforts and establishing a new program, Astarita decided to bring his unique vision to the Atlanta dining scene when he realized his dream of becoming a business owner. Along with business partner and fellow countryman Mario Maccarone, Astarita launched C+M Gastronomy Group. For nearly two decades, C & M Gastronomy Group has brought unique and stylized restaurant concepts to the Atlanta restaurant market.
Astarita’s commitment to exemplary cuisine is behind some of the city’s most beloved restaurants, including Ciao Bella, Baraonda, Publik Draft House and his newest concept, Fig Jam Kitchen & Bar. Among his various mentors and employers, Astarita counts his father among his most influential role models.
He still remembers his father’s mantra, and holds it dear to his heart today:
Serve the best and freshest, in-season ingredients available. Keep the recipe simple, and let the ingredients stand out in each dish.
Astarita infuses these principles into his winning recipe for success, and he brings his passion for creative, quality cuisine to each plate he prepares.
