Raised in his family’s restaurant, Tocco Pizza e Arte in Wicker Park, Adriano developed a strong foundation in the food industry early on, working as a pizza chef and in various front- and back-of-house roles. He later refined his culinary and leadership skills managing an Italian café in Chicago’s Loop, blending hands-on experience with his Italian heritage.

As an early member of Recipe for Change, Adriano played a key role in launching the organization’s signature pizza internship and has since helped shape all culinary, arts, and music programming over the past eight years. While he no longer oversees daily operations, he continues to provide strategic direction and mentorship to support the program’s ongoing growth and impact.

Known for his calm leadership and high standards, Adriano has helped foster a positive, structured environment where detainees develop meaningful culinary and life skills. In addition to his work with Recipe for Change, he serves as General Manager of Follia, an Italian restaurant in Lake Forest. He also applies his IT skills to support website development for RFC and his family’s hospitality businesses.