Born and raised in Florence, Italy, Chef Cristian Pietoso is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of Florence, Bernardo Buontalenti. Chef Pietoso has worked in some of the world’s top restaurants including Cibreo in Florence, under Chef Fabio Picchi and the Savoy Hotel in London.

In 2004, Cristian moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, to join his father at Nicola’s Ristorante as the Executive Chef. In 2007, he and his father opened Via Vite on Fountain Square in the heart of downtown. Cristian married his wife Amanda in 2010 and together they took over ownership and operations of Via Vite. In 2015, Cristian and Amanda opened Forno Osteria & Bar in Hyde Park, and most recently, took over ownership and operations with Nicolas in Over the Rhine. They opened a second location of Forno Osteria & Bar in Montgomery, in July of 2018. Amanda and Cristian reside in Cincinnati with their two daughters and their dogs Nocino and Gnocchi.