Chef Jeff Michaud is a James Beard Award–winning chef, restaurateur, author, and co-founder of La Via Gaia, a culinary travel company devoted to immersive Italian experiences. As Chef-Owner of Osteria in Philadelphia, Jeff is known for his ingredient-driven approach to Italian cuisine and his deep respect for regional traditions shaped by years of living, cooking, and traveling throughout Italy.
Jeff began his culinary journey at just 13 years old in a pizza shop in his native New Hampshire. Inspired by his grandmother’s cooking and her beautiful handmade wedding cakes, he went on to study at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, graduating in 1998. His early career took him to Aspen, Colorado, where he worked at the Caribou Club before moving to Philadelphia as Sous Chef at Ristorante Vetri. In 2004, driven by a desire to fully understand Italian food culture, Jeff relocated to Bergamo, Italy. Over the next several years, he worked in respected Northern Italian kitchens, including Michelin-starred restaurants, experiences that deeply influenced his cooking philosophy centered on simplicity, seasonality, and hospitality. In 2012, he published his cookbook Eating Italy, sharing the stories and recipes from that transformative period.
Together with his wife Claudia, Jeff founded La Via Gaia — named after their daughter — to share their passion for Italy’s cuisine, culture, and way of life through thoughtfully curated culinary journeys. When he’s not in the kitchen or leading trips, Jeff enjoys skiing, training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and spending time cooking with family and friends, always looking forward to his next return to Italy.
Travel With Jeff Michaud