Mario Amon might have been born in South America, but his heart is in Italy — or at least his taste buds.

The native of Cuenca, Ecuador, said that Italian food is his "passion," and not only for its flavors; he also appreciates the artisanal aspects, and enjoys decorating dishes so much that he does it even when cooking for himself (it makes him hungrier, he said.)

The 37-year-old Hackensack resident came to America in 1994, and promptly began working part-time at Scalinatella, the high-end Italian restaurant on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

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Source: http://www.northjersey.com