Janet Zuccarini is the founder of Gusto 54 Restaurant Group. For over three decades, she has created restaurants that transport guests through inspired design, exceptional cuisine, and heartfelt hospitality.

Janet first opened Trattoria Nervosa in 1996, later expanding to Gusto 101, Pai Northern Thai Kitchen, and Felix in Los Angeles, which was lauded as Esquire's "#1 Best New Restaurant in America."

Janet lived in Rome for eight years, an experience that shaped her deep appreciation for Italian craft and tradition. She holds an MBA from Boston University and is a certified pizzaiola from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana in Naples.

Janet is a resident judge on Top Chef Canada and a keynote speaker at the 2026 Restaurants Canada Show in Toronto. In 2026, she was inducted into the OHI Hall of Fame by the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) for her lifetime contribution to hospitality. She has also been recognized as Independent Restaurateur of the Year, received the TEC Canada Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, and was named Businesswoman of the Year by the Italian Chamber of Commerce.