Born in Naples, Italy and raised in Milan, Bruno Abate was inspired at an early age by his parents for his passion for food and fashion. Bruno opened his first company in Milan selling fish and caviar to high-end restaurants.

His extensive travels around the world helped him appreciate fine food and design and eventually led him to Chicago in 2002, where he combined his passions.

In Chicago, Bruno brought together his vision to marry authentic Italian cuisine with modern design when he opened his first restaurant Follia in the meatpacking district. Following the concept of Follia he then opened Tocco in Wicker Park, which has now been reopened as Tocco North in Winnetka. The Concept was simple, make authentic Italian Cuisine with the finest ingredients and give diners an experience like they were in Italy. Today, Bruno brings his passion for food to young men from the Cook County Jail in a program appropriately called Recipe for Change. RFC provides art education as well as culinary education, job skills training and mentoring to instill the value of work and personal responsibility to the inmates. Restoring basic the human dignity typically stripped from those incarcerated in the American prison system, is essential if we want those affected to become productive members of society after their release. Bruno's mission for change is inspiring young men each day to do better and be better, not only for themselves but for their families and ultimate our communities.