The Cipriani Family: Bribes and Bellinis
12/22/202544 min
For nearly a century the Cipriani family has served celebrities, royalty, and cultural icons. Since opening their first restaurant in Venice in 1931, they’ve helped shape fine dining and invent dishes that became global classics. But as the Cipriani empire expanded, so did the scandals – including union busting, tax evasion, and alleged mob connections. Turns out the Cipriani recipe for success included a lot more than just glitz, glamor, and champagne.
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First 90 secondsSachi Cole· Host0:00
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Speaker 10:17
Wondery.
Sachi Cole· Host0:20
Sarah, are you a restaurant person? Like, when you visit New York, do you try to eat at all the trendy places in the city? You know what? I feel very overwhelmed by trendiness in general, so I feel like I kinda just go where people tell me to. But I do like a great meal. Okay. Well, what do you know about Cipriani? I know it by name. I know it's, like, kind of a fancy, tacky place for the rich and famous. Am I correct? Yeah, I don't think that's wrong. (laughs) Well, Sarah, you're super lucky, because today, we actually have a table at Cipriani, the best one in the house, and it's all on me. So pour yourself a $27 glass of red wine and tuck into your Chilean sea bass while I tell you the real history of this international restaurant dynasty. It's August 1987, and Giuseppe Cipriani is nervously pacing his Manhattan apartment, phone in hand. Giuseppe is a dashing