Marc Vetri
FOUNDER, BOARD MEMBER
Marc Vetri is the executive chef and owner of the acclaimed Vetri Family Restaurants in Philadelphia: Vetri Ristorante, Osteria, Amis and the forthcoming Alla Spina. Within two years of opening his eponymous Philadelphia restaurant, Marc was named one of Food & Wine's Ten Best New Chefs and received the Philadelphia Inquirer's highest restaurant rating. In 2005, Marc won the James Beard Award for "Best Chef Mid-Atlantic." He has earned the respect of his fellow chefs as well: Mario Batali has called Marc the “best Italian chef in the country” and Bobby Flay says he “cooks the best Italian food in America.” Marc is the author of Rustic Italian Food, released in 2011, which celebrates the handcrafted cuisine of Italy, advocating a hands-on, back-to-the-basics approach to cooking. He is also the author of il viaggio di vetri, a collection of more than 125 of his most-requested dishes. The book tells the story of Marc’s culinary journey from Philadelphia to California to Italy to New York and finally, back to Philly to share the Italian cuisine he loves with the people in his hometown. Both books are from Ten Speed Press.
Marc is extremely passionate about giving back to the community. For years, he has maintained a strong commitment to several non-profit including Little Smiles, Community Partnership School, Achieve-Ability, the National Stuttering Association and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. In 2008, Marc and business partner Jeff Benjamin created the Vetri Foundation For Children. Taking the lessons learned by years in the culinary world, Marc helps creates environments for children that promote healthy eating and lifestyle choices thus having an impact on their overall health and wellness.
Jeff Benjamin
FOUNDER, BOARD MEMBER
In 1998, Jeff Benjamin joined Marc Vetri as General Manager and then, two years later, as partner at the small, intimate Vetri restaurant in Philadelphia. In those two years, Jeff’s impeccable standards of quality and service helped to transform Vetri into what the Philadelphia Inquirer calls “a sublime dining experience.” Jeff and his small team of efficient servers now orchestrate outstanding meals with an individual consideration that would be impossible in larger restaurants. Jeff has also expanded Vetri’s wine cellar from a 60-bottle starter list to its current stable of more than 500 labels and 5,000 bottles.
Jeff has worked to expand the Vetri experience into a larger concept with the 2006 opening of Osteria, in 2010 with Amis, and in 2012 with their newest venture, Alla Spina. Even as the company continues to grow, Jeff remains an active partner in front of house operations and on the floor, ensuring the signature Vetri experience is upheld.
Jeff is dedicated to numerous philanthropic causes. He is committed to nonprofit organizations such as Little Smiles and Achieve-Ability, serves on the Board of Trustees for the Community Partnership School and is the current Board Secretary for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Wanting to do more, Jeff, along with his business partner Marc Vetri created the Vetri Foundation For Children in July 2008. The Foundation focuses on helping children experience the connection between healthy eating and healthy living, thus impacting their overall wellness.
