By Wendy Lemlin

For Chef Francesca Penoncelli, Ciccia Osteria is the manifestation of a long held dream.

Chef Francesca Penoncelli

Mario Cassineri welcomes guests to Ciccia Osteria

Chef Francesca Penoncelli has cooked in high-end kitchens all over the world, from her native Italy to such far-off places as Paris, Seoul, Beirut and Dubai, before landing in the U.S. more than a dozen years ago. Never one to draw attention to herself, she’s mostly stayed in the background while her more outgoing husband, fellow chef, and business partner Mario Cassineri has represented the pair in the limelight (but always making sure to credit her contributions!). With the opening of Ciccia Osteria in the newly-hip neighborhood of Barrio Logan, Chef Francesca is fulfilling her dream of owning a “small, simple restaurant” with Mario, and putting the couple’s spin on time-honored family recipes with a touch of modern interpretation. Continue reading →