GENEVA — As a youngster, Tony Quartaro would visit his relatives in Geneva on holidays, where much of the time he’d hang out in his Grandma Joyce’s kitchen.
That’s where his love affair with good food began. And, that passion spawned a cross-continental career as a chef and, most recently, Quartaro’s latest covid-inspired venture: the Chicago-based Gemma Foods, which sells homemade pasta and sauces for reheating at home.
Quartaro, 38, did not grow up in Geneva, but his father, Nick, is a DeSales High School graduate who raised his family primarily throughout the Midwest while coaching at big-name college football programs.
However, the family returned to Geneva often to visit Nick’s parents (Tony’s grandparents), Joe and Joyce Quartaro, who lived on Madison Street.
“Growing up, being part of a large extended Italian family, the importance of food was deeply rooted,” Tony Quartaro said. “My extended family are all unbelievable cooks. I was just surrounded by it.”