Rocco DiSpirito entered the Culinary Institute of America at the age of sixteen, and at eighteen began working with legendary chefs worldwide. The James Beard Award-winning chef opened the 3-star Union Pacific in New York City where he established his culinary credentials. He was named Food & Wine's Best New Chef and was the first chef to grace the cover of Gourmet as "America's Most Exciting Young Chef". DiSpirito stars in Restaurant Divided on The Food Network. He is the author of ten books, including the New York Times bestselling Now Eat This! Diet and The Pound a Day Diet.