About

A Sicilian native, Vincenzo Betulia grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin after his family emigrated to the United States when he was two years old. He began his career there at age 14 with an after-school job in Paul and Joe Bartolotta’s Ristorante Bartolotta. He ultimately attained the chef position, became a Bartolotta protégé and helped open two additional Bartolotta restaurants in Milwaukee, including the James Beard award-winning Lake Park Bistro serving classic French country fare. While attending the Kendall Culinary School in Chicago, Chef Vincenzo further honed his skills at Bartolotta’s acclaimed Spiaggia. In Chicago and later in Milwaukee, he also worked with Michael White, a fellow Kendall alum and and Bartolotta protégé. On a vacation in Naples, Florida, Chef Vincenzo fell in love with the area and secured a chef’s position at Campiello. He worked his way up to head chef, a position he held for nine years, before opening his namesake restaurant Osteria Tulia in 2013 and Bar Tulia, an Italian gastropub and craft cocktail bar, in December 2014. A culinary trendsetter and leader in Naples culinary evolution, Chef Vincenzo opened his third restaurant, The French, a French brasserie, in January 2017.

Chef Vincenzo was the first chef in Naples to host a Friends of James Beard Benefit dinner, and cooked at the world-renowned James Beard House in New York City in September 2016. His restaurant, Osteria Tulia, was recently voted Best Restaurant in Naples for the second time in the Naples Illustrated Dining Readers' Choice Awards. He has won a Best Chefs of America Award every year from 2013 to 2016. Chef Vincenzo was also featured in a segment of Emeril’s Florida, which aired on the Food Network and Cooking Channel, and was selected by Chef Emeril as the only Chef from Naples to participate in Emeril’s Taste of Florida, an event hosted by Visit Florida for the Association of Food Journalists’ annual conference. USA Today’s 10Best recognized Osteria Tulia as the #1 Cream of the Crop, #1 Italian restaurant and #1 Lunch Spot in Naples, Florida. Chef Vincenzo received a Naples Illustrated Readers’ Choice Award in 2015 for “Best New Chef.” Osteria Tulia was also recommended by Forbes Travel Guide, Peter Greenberg, The Fifty Best and Fodor’s. Further, the restaurant was awarded a Naples Illustrated Readers’ Choice Award in 2015 for “Best Restaurant,” Trip Advisor Hall of Fame, for receiving a Certificate of Excellence for 5 years in a row, and an Open Table Winner’s Choice Award 2016 and 2017. Osteria Tulia also received a Golden Spoon Award in 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018 by Florida Trend magazine, which selects the top restaurants in the state of Florida. Both Osteria Tulia and Bar Tulia have also received numerous accolades by Gulfshore Life magazine. The French received Best New Restaurant by Naples Illustrated and Gulfshore Life in 2018, and was recognized as one of the Best New Places to Dine in the State of Florida by Florida Trend magazine.

A native of Arles in Provence, it is the door of the Camargue, one of the most beautiful natural zones in Europe. In France, we are asked at the young age of fourteen to make a career choice and I had no idea. But one day, I met a guidance counselor who clearly asked me this question: “Why don’t you go to the hospitality business?” I said to myself: “Why not?” During my first year at Grenoble, I dreamt of being a cook, and admired the chef and his passion. He asked me to weigh out a recipe for pastry and was exact EXCEPT for 1g of salt! Chef lost his temper because of this miniscule error. At that point, I decided to work front of house. This does show that sometimes, life hangs by a thread. For me, it was 1g.

After having obtained all my diplomas in restaurant management, service, sommelier training as well as cuisine, which were given by my academy’s promotion godfather Alain Chapel, I went to Barcelona, to learn Spanish.

In 1996, I decided to move on in my career as Food Beverage Director at Le Bonne Entente, which will eventually become a Five Star hotel and Four Diamond restaurant, while at the same time teaching at an international hospitality College... These two contracts lasted twelve (12) years and I exploded in my creativity and profession as I travelled to Paris, New York, Chicago and Toronto.

During all these experiences, I took my inspiration from global winemaking leaders and personalities such as Christian Moueix, owner of Pétrus, who once told me: “Every morning, I listen to my vines” or Nadine de Rothschild: “Elegance is an attitude that gives you your altitude’’, or Paul Bocuse that I met in Chicago “Passion keeps you young in this job”. In fact, they all transmitted to me the fact that enthusiasm activates our personality, communicates our passion and bring a beautiful energy to others.

Since 2016, I have been living in Naples. I love spending time with my wife Francesca, playing soccer, training for a triathlon, reading and traveling.

Since the opening of The French, I love to share “my French flair” especially since my primary motivation is self-realization, which is entirely dependent upon the group of people that I am managing.

Ryan is a Naples native and graduate of The Culinary Institute of America in New York. Upon returning to Naples in 2011, Ryan joined The Culinary Concepts Team as a sous chef followed by The Local and True Food Kitchen as their Executive Sous Chef. Ryan joined The French in January of 2020 and has enjoyed immersing himself in the French classics that he studied in school. When he isn’t leading the team, Ryan enjoys working on his cars, spending time with family and playing chess.

With an unwavering commitment to service and excellence, Michael’s career journey began upon joining the United States Marine Corps, where he learned the values of discipline, leadership, and dedication. After proudly serving his country, Michael transitioned into the civilian world, seeking new challenges and opportunities.

For the next decade, he immersed himself in the vibrant atmosphere of Universal Studios Orlando, where he honed his skills in retail management, human resources, and food service management. In this dynamic environment, Michael thrived on delivering exceptional guest experiences while leading diverse teams to success.

Eager to expand his horizons, Michael joined Darden Restaurants and embarked on a remarkable ten-year tenure at Bahama Breeze. As an award-winning General Manager, he spearheaded initiatives to elevate operational efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction, and foster a culture of excellence. Through strategic leadership and a passion for hospitality, Michael garnered recognition for achieving outstanding results and exceeding performance benchmarks.

Throughout his career, whether in the military or in the civilian sector, Michael has remained steadfast in his commitment to excellence, integrity, and continuous growth. With a proven track record of success and a relentless drive to surpass expectations, he looks forward to embracing new challenges and making impactful contributions at The French Brasserie.

Sofia Calero has been a pivotal part of the management team at The French for the past three years. Originally from Colombia, Sofia has made the United States her home for the last two decades. Her journey in hospitality began uniquely as a nanny at the Ritz Carlton, sparking a passion that has defined her career. With over twelve years of experience in the industry, Sofia has honed her skills at establishments such as Outback and True Food Kitchen before her tenure at The French.

Known for her eternal optimism and profound understanding of guest service, Sofia embodies the spirit of hospitality. Her ability to connect with both staff and guests alike makes her a beloved figure in the dining room. Sofia is excited about the opportunities to continue growing professionally, further enriching her deep love for the hospitality industry. Outside of work, Sofia loves spending time with her family and is an avid traveler, always planning her next adventure. Whether behind the scenes or in the forefront, Sofia ensures every guest at The French enjoys a memorable experience.

Having worked at her family’s ice cream shop from a young age, Maria never believed that she’d find herself working in kitchens. As she says, “the industry chose her”. Several years after receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Maria pursued her love for culinary arts at the The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago (CHiC). While honing her skills and pursuing her career as a pastry chef, Maria worked at a few Chicagoland bakeries (Zelda’s Sweet Shoppe, Artopolis, Sweet Mandy B’s) as well as several notable restaurants (Signature Room, Bin 36, Coco Pazzo, Blue Water Grill, Gibsons Restaurant Group). Maria spent five years teaching baking and pastry for the Illinois Institute of Art (The Art Institutes) which to date serves at the top of her highest career rewards. She is a natural born teacher and mentor to many. When she is not focusing on desserts, you can find her buried in a book or talking about her first love, music.

Born in Naples, Italy, Marcello grew up in a classic southern Italian family.  As a teenager Marcello and his family moved to the Marche region in central Italy and Marcello started to work in a local wintery to pay for college while attending law school. 

After falling in love with an American exchange student (whom would later become his wife) Marcello moved to Florida and began a new career in the wine business. He received his sommelier certification from the Court of aster Sommeliers and took a position with Winebow Importers, a leading importer of premium Italian wines in.  Marcello would spend more than a decade with Winebow and migrated up the corporate ladder to eventually land as their Portfolio Manager for the European wineries directly imported by Winebow. 

Marcello enjoys spending time with his family, he has three young children with his wife, Kate.  His Sundays are reserved for making pasta from scratch with his father for their regular family dinners.