About the Chef

Chef Mario “Jocko” Giacalone started his culinary career in junior high working concessions at Arlington Stadium behind home plate. After graduation, he joined the United States Army where he proudly served in Desert Storm. Upon returning to the States, he attended El Centro College in Dallas where he studied Culinary Arts.

He trained in several Dallas area restaurants and worked his way up the ranks in the kitchen. He then switched gears and worked in the corporate world as Sous Chef and Executive Chef for IBM, Hewlett Packard, World Saving Bank, Chase Manhattan, Trinity University, and Villanova Conference Center.

Chef Jocko’s most recent venture was with the world famous New York steak house Smith & Wollensky opening the Houston restaurant. He was the Saucier Chef and holds the distinction of winning the Houston Rodeo Best Bites competition held during the International Wine competition in 2005 representing Smith & Wollensky. He was invited back to represent them again in 2006 and proudly won Grand Champion for the second year in a row.

In 2006 Chef Jocko launched Amore Alimento out of his passion and love for food, and his desire to bring to his clients the world of fine dining without the hassle and stress of dining out.