Domenico Alioto bursts out of the kitchen with a smile on his face, seeming not just at ease but perfectly content. Relaxed, despite the clearly bustling scene from within the kitchen, he is the perfect embodiment of a gracious Italian chef.
Alioto, who came to San Diego from Italy on a visit over 20 years ago, has been working in the city’s Italian restaurants ever since. He began at Michelangelo’s Italian Ristorante in Point Loma, a position he recalls with a smile. He then worked at Osteria Panevino in Downtown’s Gaslamp district, and finally was attracted to Baci Ristorante.
As Baci’s Executive Chef for the past seven years, Alioto has been spinning old world Italian creations to the delight of his guests. While he makes a range of traditional Italian preparations, his favorite ingredient to work with is fresh fish. “We get fresh fish every day,” he explains with a delightful Italian accent. “And I like working with the sauces,” he continues, explaining he especially likes pairing fresh fish with rich sauces. His rotating daily specials include decadent combinations of sauces such as red wine reduction and lemon caper sauce with fish such as sea bass and salmon.
In addition to fish, Chef Alioto specialties include traditional Italian dishes such as Osso Bucco and Veal Picatta, both of which are almost always available as specials, although they are not listed on Baci's menu. He also weaves masterful Italian creations for the regular menu, offering dishes such as the unique Linguine Zingarella, a luscious dish of al dente linguini tossed with a creamy tomato sauce, veal tips, mushrooms, and peas, and Sea Bass alla Livornese, fish in a light tomato sauce with white wine, capers, and black olives.
Whether you are stopping in at Baci for a weekday lunch or a romantic dinner, you will surely be delighted by Chef Domenico Alioto’s masterful renditions of regional Italian cuisine.