Washington, DC, resident Richard Micheli comes by his culinary passion naturally. Not only have three earlier generations of Micheli chefs inspired his talents, he is also a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Now he has taken command of this renowned local Italian restaurant, The Portofino Restaurant, also in Arlington. His work must make his father proud, for his dad began this popular eatery back in 1970.

But he credits both his parents for his love of cooking. “My mom is a wonderful cook,” he said. “She is not an industrial chef but my dad is a professional chef. I was raised in a restaurant, my dad’s The Portofino.” Although he went to culinary school, he said he never had any interest in being in the kitchen. But he attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, studying the restaurant business, and his studies ended him up at his dad’s restaurant.