Vinny 1982

Vinny's family is from Southern Italy (mostly Napoli) where Vinny spent most of his summers as a teenager. He was born in Carroll Gardens, and raised in Bensonhurst & Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Like many Italian-Americans in Brooklyn, a friend of Vinny's dropped a letter from Vinny's last name, taking it from 'Vincenzo' to 'Vincenz'. And that's how we got 'Vinny Vincenz'.

Vinny has relatives with Pizzerias in Carroll Gardens, Bay Ridge, New Jersey, Pennsylvannia, North Carolina, Virginia and Florida. He started working in pizzerias at the age of 13, where he continued to work until the age of 23.

Next he went on to become a waiter in Manhattan, spending six years working in fine dining establishments, including:

Gotham Bar & Grill • Osteria del Circo • Windows on the World • Babbo • Le Madri • Patria

Vinny 2007