Born and raised in Dallas, Julian Barsotti comes from an Italian American family with roots in New Jersey and Memphis. He began his culinary career working for Paul Bertolli at Oliveto Restaurant in Oakland, California.

In 2006, Julian returned to Dallas and launched Nonna, his first award-winning restaurant. Hailed by The New York Times’ Sam Sifton as “Dallas sophistication at its best,” this upscale, regional Italian-inspired restaurant was an overnight success, and remains a Dallas favorite. Within 10 years of Nonna’s debut, Julian opened two more critically acclaimed restaurants: Carbone’s Fine Food and Wine, a tribute to the Italian American cooking that he grew up with; and Sprezza, a Roman taverna-inspired restaurant specializing in pasta dishes, pizza, and shareable plates.

Julian’s fourth, restaurant, Fachini, pays homage to the mid-20th century Italian American ristorantes. The menu includes spectacular versions of Veal Marsala, Lobster Fra Diavolo, and Timpano.

In 2016, Julian was tapped by American Airlines to design upgraded menus for its first class cabins. He was one of four prominent chefs from the U.S. and Europe hired to elevate these in-flight meals.

Julian was also among the three nationally and internationally acclaimed chefs showcased in the Passport Italy program launched by Texas-based luxury grocer, Central Market, in 2014. Throughout the two-week event, he taught cooking classes in Central Market’s Houston, Austin, Dallas and Ft. Worth stores. Julian was also the chef contracted as the culinary ambassador for Passport Italy, creating all of the recipes for the chef-prepared Italian specialties sold at all Central Market stores during the event.

Julian and his wife Mary live in Dallas. They have three children, Emilia, Leonardo, and Francesca.