Arturo Salas

Executive Chef

Gemelli Italian Grill

Arturo Salas is a trusty man behind the scenes. Since Gemelli’s opening day on May 19, 2005, Salas has been whipping up reliable Italian standards based on time-tested recipes.

It’s not an easy job, stepping into the shoes of another man’s dream, and Salas does it well. In the kitchen of a restaurant that is conceptualized, designed, founded, and operated by a husband and wife team, Salas does a dynamite job of living up to their vision.

All of the dishes on Gemelli’s menu are the creation of Vince Busalacchi, who spent a lifetime creating them. Vince was born in the Sicilian town of Porticello, into a restaurant family that moved to San Diego when he was three years old. His upbringing coincided with the opening of restaurants. He started working in pizza shops in the 1970’s and graduated to family-style Italian restaurants, like Po Pazzo, where he first worked with Salas.

The inspiration behind the dishes that Salas prepares is Vince’s mother: “My mother is my inspiration,” Vince explains, “she could whip up dinner in ten minutes. She would be in the kitchen 24 hours a day—she did it for my father, and for us [kids].” Vince remembers dishes such as stuffed artichokes, pasta with broccoli, and tri tip with potatoes and peas.

Chef Salas first met Vince Buscalacchi at Po Pazzo, one of the Busalacchi family’s many Italian restaurants in San Diego. There, he proved his affinity for learning authentic Italian cuisine. Salas is originally from Mexico City, but you would never guess it from his cooking. His dishes seem spot-on Italian, with a range that spans from Piedmont to Sicily.