Chef Luciano Canova: Crafting an Empire in New England’s Culinary Scene

On this episode of Learning to Fly, host Bruce Mittman sits down with legendary restaurateur and executive chef Luciano Canova, who has spent over six decades building a celebrated Italian culinary legacy in New England.

Luciano shares his incredible journey from growing up on a humble farm outside Rome after World War II—where surviving on farm-grown ingredients sparked his lifelong passion for food—to graduating with honors from culinary school in Naples at just 16 years old. He reflects on his early years honing his craft across European fine-dining kitchens, working on international cruise ships, and overcoming language barriers and harsh conditions in his relentless pursuit of culinary mastery.

Bruce and Luciano discuss his arrival in the United States, his early restaurant ventures on Cape Cod and near the University of Oklahoma, and his return to New England in 1991 to open his flagship venue, Luciano’s Restaurant in Wrentham, Massachusetts. Luciano details the operating philosophy that brought him national acclaim and gold and silver spoon awards: maintaining uncompromising quality, bringing authentic traditional techniques to the plate, and treating every guest who walks through his doors like family. He also shares how he expanded his empire into the multi-location Torre Restaurant Group across Massachusetts and Rhode Island by empowering his long-term employees to become partners.

Offering an inspiring look at resilience, hard work, and the true meaning of hospitality, Luciano reflects on what it takes to rise from poverty to the top of the restaurant industry while staying grounded in love for family and community. It’s a heartfelt, flavor-packed conversation with one of New England's most respected culinary figures.