It is hard not to miss Chef Giovanni – he?s the handsome, charming guy in chef whites working a mile a minute behind the open kitchen at Valentino Cucina Italiana on Ft. Lauderdale?s busy North Federal Highway. Rocchio isn?t just charismatic, he is extremely talented as well.
Valentino Restaurant
?I don?t eat much,? he laughs, distracting listeners with his dimpled smile as he places the finishing touches on a breathtaking foie gras with whipped cream appetizer dish.  The bar accommodates 16 and is the coveted spot for diners to enjoy front row seats to the magic of Valentino.  For those seeking to simply sit back, relax, and enjoy a standout Italian meal there is plenty of comfy, intimate seating throughout the expansive restaurant as well. It takes a lot to keep one restaurant running smoothly and garnering success, but Rocchio, whose unruly curls betray the strict discipline he evokes in the kitchen, decided to double up by opening another completely different eatery, One Door East, right next door to his modern Italian hit.
?We used to play ping-pong in that empty space,? he confides while serving a shrimp fusilli with controne beans. ?But ping pong doesn?t pay the rent.? And there?s that smile again. 
One Door East Restaurant
The friendliness that exudes from Rocchio crosses over to his cooking.  Valentino Cucina Italiana opened in 2006 as an ode to his father?s Plantation restaurant young Rocchio grew up in by the same name.  The menu sh...