Chef Walter Potenza

Chef Walter Potenza has led some of the finest restaurants in New England before opening his first restaurant "Walter's "in East Greenwich in 1987. Walters relocated to Providence’s current address in 1998.

Born in Giulianova, region of Abruzzo,Italy
Researcher of Historical cooking from the Roman Empire to the Unification of Italy.
Expert on the cooking of the Italian Jewish Sephardic Heritage Post-Inquisition Era

Director of “Chef Walters Cooking School “Providence Rhode Island, Gubbio/Teramo /Italy
Author of cookbook "Federal Hill Flavors & Knowledge "

Currently working on publishing two cookbooks-
"19 Ghettos, the food and life of the Jews in Italy "and “Federal Hill Sweets “
Developer of the Cooking in Terra-cotta with Chef Walter’s brand “Terra-wares” domestically made and available nationwide.

Featured on the Food Network with Mario Batali, Florence Taylor and on PBS with Mary Ann Esposito host of his own "Stir it up" cooking show in New England.
Appeared in national and international publications, such as La Cucina Italiana, Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Yankee Magazine, Gastronomica, New York Times, Boston Globe etc.

Research and Development Chef (RCA) for 12 national food companies
Recipient of the “Portonovo Award”, Marche Region, Italy (2001)
Awarded by the Government of Italy as Ambassador of Italian Gastronomy (2002)
Recipient of the “Insignia Award” from President of Italy Onorevole Luigi Scalfaro (2002)
Celebrity chef at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002, and menu development
Chef for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy
Member of 12 International Culinary Associations such as the James Beard Foundations – IACP
Trustee for Euro-toques in North-America(European Chef Association)
President of the “Italian Heritage Commission “State of Rhode Island “
Trustee for the region of Abruzzo in North America for the Tourism Council & Culinary arts
Recipient of 2005 “Five Star Diamond Award “The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences,
2007 Ambassador of Italian Gastronomy from the Government of Italy

Owner of Spezia Foodsmiths (North Providence)
Natural & Organic Market Caffe’
Walter’s Ristorante d’Italia (Providence)
Chef Walter’s Cooking School (Providence)
Spiga Trattoria (Cranston)

President of Chef Walters Fine foods, with specialty sauces in 550 markets in the Northeast