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American Dream: Pizza Chefs From Italy Open Bergen County Restaurant

Five immigrants, three of whom are pizza chefs from Italy, have opened a Bergen County restaurant in pursuit of the American Dream.

Culto Italiano, or the Italian vibe, opened on Dec. 1 at 49 W. Church Street in Bergenfield.The three pizza chefs are 31-year-old Corrado Cervelli, 23-year-old Angelo Riccio, Gianni Massaro. The other two owners are Tammy Castellanos and her husband, Ariel Castellanos, of Rutherford.

Tammy and Ariel Castellanos with Corrado Cervelli, Angelo Riccio, and Gianni Massaro at their new restaurant, Culto Italiano.

Courtesy of Tammy Castellanos

All of the food is made from scratch using ingredients from Italy, Tammy tells Daily Voice. Right now, Culto is takeout or catering orders only.

Cervelli, the executive chef, Riccio, and Massaro were all born in Italy, while Tammy is from Honduras and Ariel's parents are from Argentina and Ecuador.

Gianni Massaro, CoFounder / Executive chef at Culto Italiano.

Courtesy of Tammy Castellanos

Angelo Riccio, Culto Italiano pizza chef.

Courtesy of Tammy Castellanos

Culto Italiano was Cervelli's idea, and began as a catering company in 2020 — just three years after he immigrated to the U.S. from Naples. 

Cervelli grew up making authentic Neapolitan pizza in his family restaurant in Naples, and hoped to follow in his father's culinary footsteps since he was 6 years old. By the time he turned 13, Cervelli was already proving his talent and passion making pizza Napoletana. 

With help from Riccio, who moved to America at 19 years old, Massaro, a trained chef, and the Castellanos', who own an accounting business together, Cervelli is hoping that the brick and mortar store will help complete his American Dream.

They all do.

"We are all trying to work hard and make our dream come true," Tammy Castellanos said.

Click here to place an order from Culto Italiano, 49 W. Church St., Bergenfield.

Ariel and Tammy Castellanos

Courtesy of Tammy Castellanos

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