Quick Informal Government Summit
From Italy to China to the U.S., Filippo Fiori has gained quite a lot of knowledge from his travels, which he plans to share on the Quick Informal Government Summit.
Photograph: Networld Media Group
August 8, 2025 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Market & Meals Truck Operator
The Quick Informal Government Summit is rapidly approaching from Oct. 5 to 7 in Austin, Texas. FastCasual.com is spotlighting panelists who will probably be sharing knowledgeable insights on the occasion.
Filippo Fiori, head chef and CEO of Due Cucini Italiana will be a part of the panel Constructing a lean restaurant: Optimizing operations with sensible self-service. This panel will cowl methods equivalent to self-service POS techniques, optimizing the menu, coaching employees, knowledge and different methods to benefit from self-service expertise.
The Quick Informal Government Summit is a significant occasion that gathers executives to community, find out about revolutionary trade traits and take their manufacturers within the subsequent degree.
Networld Media Group is the organizer of the summit, publishers of Fastcasual.com, QSRweb and Pizza Market. Click on right here to register for the Quick Informal Government Summit.
The following Networld Media Group occasion is the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit going down March 16-18, 2026 in San Diego, California. Prime restaurant leaders will spend two and a half days of networking, inspiring tales and confirmed methods.
Describe your present position.
As a head chef, I am chargeable for bringing essentially the most genuine flavors to our company whereas guaranteeing consistency throughout our areas. I oversee almost each facet of operations, from upkeep and provide chain to back-of-house coaching, recipe growth, and implementation. I am extremely concerned in website choice for brand new eating places and, because of my engineering background, I am an actual ache within the neck (in the easiest way) for our architect, kitchen design staff and development crew to make sure each element helps environment friendly service. I am additionally concerned in strategic choices and enterprise growth initiatives, together with catering, to assist the corporate develop whereas staying true to our mission
What was your first-ever profession position and what’s one necessary lesson you realized from it?
I really began out as a nuclear engineer, analyzing the security of nuclear energy vegetation. It taught me rapidly that regardless of how sensible you’re, teamwork at all times wins — there’s merely no technique to deal with one thing that complicated alone. Humorous sufficient, earlier than that, I labored part-time as a marriage occasion waiter to pay for my research, and the identical lesson utilized. Whether or not it is protecting reactors secure or getting 200 meals to tables whereas the band is taking part in, communication and teamwork are the whole lot.
What impressed you to work in your trade?
I’ve at all times loved cooking. Once I first enrolled in engineering, I assumed I might construct a profession, save sufficient cash, and open a restaurant once I turned 40. However ardour took over earlier than deliberate. Contemporary off my Ph.D. and mainly broke, I opened my first restaurant with Davide at 30. It was a leap, however one pushed by the assumption that good meals and significant work may go hand in hand
What do you get pleasure from most about your present position?
I am extraordinarily proud when our areas execute our dishes effectively and supply the identical expertise to each visitor. Reaching consistency throughout a number of areas, whereas serving contemporary pasta from a scratch kitchen and providing heat Italian hospitality, is extremely rewarding. It is a pleasure to see our groups deliver that imaginative and prescient to life every day
What’s a standard false impression folks have about what you do?
Folks usually suppose that as a head chef, I am at all times cooking — and that I should be bored with it. In actuality, the position is far more about main groups and managing operations, and I not often get to cook dinner throughout the workday. That is why I am at all times cooking in my free time, merely for the enjoyment of it. Sharing meals with household and pals is very rewarding for me
What trade traits do you suppose are at the moment over-hyped and why?
I feel scorching fried hen is over-hyped. It is change into the default ‘revolutionary’ menu addition for a lot of quick informal manufacturers in search of a fast site visitors enhance, however the market is saturated, and the operational challenges (fryer administration, consistency and price volatility) usually outweigh the advantages except it is core to the model. It is simple to get distracted by what’s trending as an alternative of specializing in differentiation and meals that really aligns along with your idea’s id
What trade traits do you suppose do not get sufficient consideration and why?
A lot of the consideration is at all times given to meals and drinks, nevertheless one development that does not get sufficient consideration is operational simplicity as a aggressive benefit. In quick informal, we regularly chase new tech, new menu objects or social media traits, however the true differentiator might be how frictionless your kitchen techniques and workflows are, permitting groups to ship higher meals quicker with much less waste and stress. One other underappreciated space is the intersection of sustainability and cost-efficiency—lowering waste, enhancing vitality use, and sensible sourcing can defend margins whereas genuinely aligning with client values.
In the event you weren’t working in your present subject, what would you be doing as an alternative?
I might likely be sticking with the security evaluation of nuclear energy plant however extra usually I might nonetheless be working within the nuclear engineering subject, engaged on some revolutionary plant design making an attempt to supply my small contribution to a sustainable growth of humanity
What do you do to have enjoyable outdoors of labor?
I like snowboarding, particularly with my daughters. I like exploring the character in PNW. Touring can also be a part of my free time actions, often centered on meals and tradition, both again house in Italy or Malaysia.
Are you concerned in any charitable organizations that you simply wish to inform folks about?
I prefer to preserve my charitable work private. As an organization we’re very lively within the Seattle and Dallas space however is just not one thing we boast about.
The place did you develop up and the way did your upbringing impression the particular person you’re right this moment?
I grew up in Lari, a small countryside village in Tuscany on the outskirts of the Chianti hills, surrounded by good meals, robust neighborhood, and a tradition that values high quality and ease. That upbringing formed how I see hospitality right this moment—meals isn’t just one thing you promote, it is one thing you share to deliver folks collectively. It additionally taught me to understand exhausting work and to concentrate to the main points, whether or not in a kitchen or in life.
What’s one fascinating factor about you that even the folks you’re employed with on daily basis most likely do not know?
Most individuals do not know that whereas I used to be incomes my Ph.D. in nuclear science in China, I additionally taught cooking there and ended up on a significant cooking TV present in China and Korea. It was an sudden detour that confirmed me how meals can join folks throughout cultures — and possibly gave me extra helpful expertise for operating eating places than I spotted on the time!
Is there anything you wish to inform folks about your self or your organization/group?
We began our restaurant with a easy mission: to deliver the true style of Italy to the fast-casual world, with out shortcuts. We make contemporary pasta from scratch, cook dinner actual meals with actual elements, and imagine hospitality ought to really feel heat and real, even in case you’re simply grabbing lunch throughout a busy day. Personally, I am pushed by the concept that you do not have to decide on between high quality and effectivity—and that the enjoyment of sharing good meals is value all the hassle it takes behind the scenes.
About Bradley Cooper
