Chef Michael Carrino is the chef and owner of Restaurant Passionné, one of New Jersey’s most celebrated restaurants, recognized for its energetic and exciting French-inspired and locally focused cuisine.

A rising star in the culinary world, Chef Carrino’s Restaurant Passionné has received rave reviews in The New York Times, The Star-Ledger, New York Post and Zagat’s dinning guide. Chef has been a featured guest on NBC’s “Today Show”, CBS morning show, FOX morning show and winner of Food Network’s new cooking competition “Chopped,” hosted by Ted Allen.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Carrino was inducted into the prestigious society of wine gurus, chefs, hotel executives and restaurant owners, known as The Chaîne des Rotisseurs at the age of 28. Additionally, he also had the distinguished honor of cooking for former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush, former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher at the 400th anniversary of Jamestown in Williamsburg, VA. Most recently Chef Carrino was invited back fora a second time to cook for the prestigious members of the world famous James Beard Foundation in New York City.

Prior to opening Restaurant Passionné in 2006, Chef Carrino held various positions at such well-known restaurants including Millennium Hilton hotel’s Church and Dey Restaurant, The Swan Terrace at The Founders Inn and Conference Center, Virginia Beach, The Glen Restaurant at The Virginia Crossings Resort, Richmond, VA and The North Maple Inn, Basking Ridge, NJ.