Salvatore De Cristofaro, the longtime chef and owner of Figs in Fairmount, has sold his BYOB to veteran private chef and cooking instructor Landi Prendi, writes Michael Klein for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Prendi plans to reopen the space as Valentina Italian Ristorante by the end of May 2026.
Cristofaro’s move to sell marks the end of nearly 60-year journey in the industry, which began shortly after his arrival to the United States as a teenager from Italy in 1967.
He recalled arriving to the U.S. with just “a ticket, $14, and a big dream,” he said.
Cristofaro began his career in the industry at Pavio’s in Somerton, where he started as a cook and within a few years was promoted as executive chef.
Throughout his decades-long career, he opened or operated nearly two dozen restaurants throughout the region. He’s also cooked White House dinners for multiple U.S. presidents.
“I got everything I ever dreamed of,” De Cristofaro said.
With no plans to open another restaurant, he’s now turned the keys over to first-time restaurateur, Prendi, who plans to turn the space into an Italian BYOB with everything made from scratch.
Read more about the closure of Figs and what is coming next in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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