Lowco Meal Maestros: Nunzio Patruno

When you think of the world’s culinary capitals, you think of the various regions of Italy, each with their own traditions and techniques.

You think of places like the South of France, where the simple act of cooking borders on the transcendent, with a passion for food that is unrivaled. Nunzio Patruno got his start among these dizzying heights, in the trenches at kitchens across Italy and in Monte Carlo, studying alongside the greats and absorbing their knowledge with each dish.

His mastery of Italian cooking made his restaurants here in the states legendary, with successful concepts in Philadelphia and New Jersey drawing massive crowds. When he made the trip south to Hilton Head Island, it was to launch a concept that was decidedly less formal than his previous restaurants but shared his passion for food.

And that passion works from the ground up, starting with an almost fanatical devotion to finding the freshest ingredients.

“How we approach the product makes the dish. You have to focus on that before you focus on the recipe. If you have a bad piece of meat, there’s nothing you can do,” he said. “A good piece of meat, you just need some herbs, salt and pepper. But the adventure of it comes with what you do with those ingredients.”

And what Nunzio does with those ingredients has made his restaurant one of the most sought-after culinary hotspots on Hilton Head Island.

Nunzio RESTAURANT + BAR
18 New Orleans Rd., Hilton Head Island, SC 843-715-2172 | nunziohhi.com