Renato Poliafito, Chef

Renato Poliafito is a James Beard and IACP -nominated restaurateur, pastry chef, cookbook author, designer, and entrepreneur based in Brooklyn, NY. After a career in

graphic design and advertising, he pivoted his career to food, training as a barista to learn more about the industry and eventually became interested in opening a bakery and coBee

shop. In 2005, Renato opened the Red Hook flagship location of Baked, which kicked oB a culinary renaissance in the waterfront neighborhood, resulting in several cookbooks, a line

of mixes, granola, bakeware and a location in Tokyo. After more than a decade at Baked, Renato decided to embark on a new project and opened Ciao, Gloria in Prospect Heights in

2019, a daytime café and neighborhood bakery steeped in his Italian-American upbringing and heritage. He is also the author of DOLCI!: American Baking with an Italian Accent, his

first solo cookbook featuring Italian and "Italian American-ish" cakes, cookies, pies and pastries for any occasion. His latest venture, Pasta Night opened in 2024 and is Renato's nod to classic red sauce joints as well as his childhood summers spent in Sicily in the 1980's. Pasta Night oBers delicious house made pastas and trattoria style classics.