Ronnie di Stasio
| Ronnie di Stasio | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1955 Naples |
| Nationality | Italian and Australian |
| Occupation | marriage = second marriage with Cynthia Muller |
Rinaldo (Ronnie) di Stasio (born 1955 in Melbourne) is a restaurateur, vigneron and patron of architecture and the arts. Of Neapolitan origin, di Stasio grew up in Thornbury, Victoria, 11 km (6.8 mi) north of Melbourne, Australia. He is known as the godfather of Melbourne restaurateurs.[1]
Restaurateur
Di Stasio began his career as front-of-house manager of "Mietta's" and "Lynch’s". He operated "Rosati" with Piero Gesualdi, in Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
Di Stasio opened "Café di Stasio" in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria in 1988.[2] The interior was designed by architect Allan Powell. The restaurant was awarded "Two Hats" in The Age Good Food Guide.
In 2003, Di Stassio was nearly convicted of assault after head-butting a lawyer after being drunk in a South Yarra eatery. [3]
The Age newspaper reported, “While renowned for his urbane charm, Mr Di Stasio is also prone to extraordinary outbursts, often involving smashed crockery or profane language.” [4]
In 2014, Di Stassio threatened Carlton-based architect Robert Simeone over a design contract Mr Simeone won for a rival business of Di Stassio. [5]
On the 28th February 2016 Ronnie Di Stassio allegedly assaulted a St Kilda resident after Di Stassio was told that he was parked illegal in front of his restaurant across the pedestrian walk and obstructing pedestrians. The matter was reported to the police, who obtained closed television circuit of the incident. [6]
On the 28th February 2016, The Age newspaper reported that Ronnie's restaurant was involved in working visas rorts, abusing employees and supplying a doctored photograph to an investigative journalist in order to dis-credit an ex-employer who begun legal proceedings against the restaurant for unfair dismissal and being forced to pay $500 a week of her own salary in cash to the restaurant manager, Ms Wall and 'another senior manager. [7]
Awards
In 2007 Di Stasio received an award for Professional Excellence.[8]
Restaurant Manager Mallory Wall won the Gourmet Traveller award for Maitre d’ of the year, 2007.[9]
Chef Michael Darmanin was awarded The Age Good Food Guide Chef of the Year, 2006.
- The Age Good Food Guide, 2008. Score 17/20, Two Hats.
- The Age Good Food Guide, 2006. Score 17/20, Two Hats.
- The Age Good Food Guide, 2004. Score 17/20, Two Hats.
- The Age Good Food Guide, 2003. Score 17/20, Two Hats.
- The Australian Gourmet Pages Restaurant of the Year, 2002.
In September 2015, The Good Food Guide dropped Di Stasio down to 15.5/20, One Hat from its previous Two Hats rating. [10]
Di Stasio Winery
The Di Stasio Winery, with its building designed by Allan Powell, is located in the historic Yarra Valley, where vines were first grown in Victoria. Di Stasio wines produced and bottled on site include Chardonnay and Pinot noir.[11]
Art Patron
Di Stasio holds a considerable collection of Australian art, particularly of photographer Bill Henson.[12] The work of Bill Henson depicts semi-naked adolescents, and one of his photographs of a naked 13-year-old girl has been described as 'the sexual exploitation of minors' after the Police seized the works from a 2008 art show in Sydney. [13]
Patron of the Venice Architecture Biennale
Di Stasio has been a major sponsor of the Australian exhibit at the Venice Biennale of Architecture [14] for the 10th and 11th Biennales. He is active in the promotion of the Architecture Bienalle, using a series of ‘virtual’ advertisements published in The Age. Di Stasio sees participation in the Biennale as an essential part of Australian culture and a bridging between his Italian and Australian nationalities.
On 26 February 2008, di Stasio launched a competition seeking architectural designs for a new Australian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.[15] An exhibition of the short-listed entries was held at the Heide Museum of Modern Art throughout the spring and summer of 2008. On 28 July 2008, the two winning projects for the pavilion were announced: Davide Marchetti Architetto,[16] Italy, for the best professional design and SPF15+, Australia, for the best pre-professional entry.
References
- ↑ Melinda Houston (22 May 2004). "The Godfather". theage.com.au. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ↑ Café Di Stasio website
- ↑ The Age Newspaper.
- ↑ The Age Newspaper.
- ↑ The Age Newspaper.
- ↑ The Age Newspaper.
- ↑ The Age Newspaper.
- ↑ The Age Newspaper.
- ↑ Best Restaurants
- ↑ The Good Food Guide The Age Newspaper.
- ↑ Café Di Stasio website
- ↑ Roslyn Oxley9 website
- ↑ ABC news
- ↑ La Biennale website
- ↑ Death by Architecture website
- ↑ Davide Marchetti Architetto