Name of business: Cucina
Type of business: Food delivery, catering, cooking classes
Location: Turlock (mobile)
Hours: Food delivery on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
Contact information: cucinadimarco.com
Specialty: Italian cuisine
History of Business: Marco Fossati never imagined he’d end up in a place like Turlock. Nevertheless, he’s making a name for himself as one of the best chefs in the Central Valley.
His résumé speaks for itself.
Fossati has worked in kitchens in his native Italy, London, Paris, Berlin, Egypt, Vail, Santa Barbara and the Bay Area, where he met his wife, Lacy.
During COVID, and each without jobs, the Fossatis moved to Turlock to live with Lacy’s mother. While here, they decided to launch Cucina — which caters for private parties, offers cooking classes (for kids, too), and has a rotating dinner menu that is delivered (free within the Turlock city limits) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Each Sunday a new menu is released. If Monday’s dish sounds interesting, you can sign up to have it delivered to your home. If Wednesday’s dish also makes your mouth water, you can sign up to have that delivered, too. Already have plans for Friday night? You can simply skip Friday’s entree. You can choose to have one, two, three or none of the meals delivered to you. You simply must place your order by 2 p.m. the previous day.
Fossati enjoyed cooking as a young boy with his grandmother, Teresa.
“On Sundays, she would roast a chicken and potatoes with rosemary and white wine,” said the chef, his mind’s eye taking him back to his youth in northern Italy. “She had just one chef’s knife … and she did everything with that knife.”
Despite his love for cooking, he started out on a different career path.
“My dream was to become a heart surgeon, but things change in life,” said Fossati in his thick Italian accent. “I decided to quit college and go to culinary school.”
After his first year at the Varazze Hotel School he was named the school’s top scholar, and that summer he began working in a restaurant owned by one of his instructors.
And a career was born.
During the pandemic, while living with Lacy’s family, Fossati remained a sought-after chef. But after shunning several promising opportunities, the couple opened Cucina in January of 2021.
Cucina’s popularity has taken the couple by surprise.
“It’s something that we didn’t expect,” said Fossati. “It came from nowhere. In Italy, they say close one door, open a bigger one. We didn’t spend a penny in public relations. It’s all word of mouth. We have two part-time employees now and we’re looking for commercial real estate, to have our own kitchen, instead of renting one.”
Among Cucina’s more popular items is the chicken marsala with polenta. The lasagna is another fan favorite. The strawberry tiramisu is one of the most popular desserts.
Visit cucinadimarco.com to be put on the newsletter. Through the website, customers can book cooking classes, private dinners and catering for all events.
