Michele Forgione

Chef / Restaurateur, CANADA

Michele Forgione is a Montreal chef and restaurateur. Executive Chef/co-owner of three restaurants, Impasto,Pizzeria Gema and Chez Tousignant are located in the heart of Montreal's Little Italy and have been garnering critical acclaim since their respective openings in July 2013 and July 2014 ( chez tousignant ) late 2015 . Forgione comes from a long line of excellent home cooks, yet his formal training took place at the Pius X Culinary Institute, followed by the Institut de Tourisme et d'Hôtellerie du Québec in pastry and baking.
The chef's professional experience is extensive, highlights being executive chef positions at the Nelligan Hotel, Loews Hotel Vogue, and Koko Restaurant at the Opus Hotel. He was also the original chef at Old Montreal's Osteria Venti.
Forgione has also taught in Tuscany at the Villa Campestri olive oil estate alongside acclaimed author Nancy Harmon Jenkins. He has also appeared on television programs including À la di Stasio, Cap sur l'Été, and Ça Commence Bien. In 2014, Forgione was named by the Montreal Gazette as one of the city's 10 Next Generation Chefs and won silver medal in the Gold medal plates competition in Québec given by the Canadian Culinary Championships. He is ( co-author) of his first cookbook Montrealissimo history of food of the Italian-Montrealers and also co - owner and brand ambassador of ailments Faita-Forgione .