Our Vision & Mission
Russo's Fresh Gourmet is the offspring of a family legacy that began over 50 years ago in Queens, NY with Frank Russo Sr., founder of Villa Russo catering hall and then continued 20 years later Frank Russo Jr. founder of Russo’s On The Bay & Vetro Restaurant and Lounge.
Now, led by Toni Ann Russo, Russo’s Fresh Gourmet continues the tradition of quality food and service. Our mission is to delight customers with exceptional gourmet foods, crafted from the finest ingredients, ensuring every meal delivery embodies quality, flavor, and freshness. Our expert team of culinary experts are committed to creating balanced meals that blend convenience with gourmet quality, ensuring our customers enjoy delicious, wholesome food without compromise.
However, Russo's Fresh Gourmet is not just a business. We are a community-driven initiative. We recognize that many individuals and families face barriers to accessing nutritious food, particularly among minority groups, senior citizens, and those with disabilities. This program is designed to provide healthier meal options to those who need it most. Through partnerships with local city agencies, community leaders, and providing job opportunities, we hope to make a difference in our communities by promoting healthier lifestyles for those with less resources. We believe that everyone deserves the dignity of a good meal, therefore we aim to provide not just sustenance, but also a sense of hope and support.
Our Team
Toni Ann Russo, CEO
Toni Ann Russo is a seasoned professional with over 20 years in the hospitality and catering industry. Her journey into the culinary world was influenced by her family's businesses -Villa Russo, Russo’s On The Bay and Vetro Restaurant and Lounge - which have been operating over the past 50+ years. Through her family’s legacy, she has been instilled with a passion for high-quality food and outstanding service as well as strong work ethic and commitment to delivering memorable culinary creations.
At Russo’s Fresh Gourmet, Toni Ann's leadership is characterized by her dedication to excellence and a focus on community, and customer satisfaction. With the collaboration of senior leaders, she has introduced unique culinary concepts, setting Russo’s Fresh Gourmet apart by creating a more curated family experience. Her vision for Russo's Fresh Gourmet includes more than just delivering quality foods to hundreds of groups throughout NYC, but to ensure that this program represents a sense of community involvement and support.
Jeff Nathan, Director of Culinary Development
Chef Nathan’s resume has no shortage of experience and accolades including winning several Food Network competitions. As our Director of Culinary Development, he has used his wealth of knowledge and creativity to develop Russo's Fresh Gourmet's culinary offerings, introducing various menu concepts, enhancing product quality, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and overall growth of the division. In addition to his culinary expertise, under his leadership, our culinary professionals have been able to streamline operations and implement kitchen workflows that result in high-quality food production, while maintaining top-tier quality standards across all food service divisions.
Spiros Kannovos, Executive Chef
Chef Spiros is no newcomer when it comes to catering! As a hands-on Executive Chef in a popular Long Island restaurant he honed his skills in the kitchen. He created a well-oiled machine in streamlining kitchen productions, encouraging team leadership and create modern comfort food for his clientele. Along with his managerial and organizational skills he was quickly deemed to be a natural fit for the Russo’s On The Bay team. Over the years he has added to his skill set with large scale catering and mass food production with the Russo’s On The Bay Gourmet initiative. Along with Research & Development Team, Chef Spiros spearheaded the development of the frozen & shelf stable lines that are available at Costco Stores throughout the tri-state region. Chef Spiros and his team have also received such acclaim for serving meals to thousands of hungry New Yorkers through the Department of the Aging & COVID relief.
Jigi Mathew, Director of Food Service
Jigi has 32 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He has worked in the largest venues in New York City, including restaurants, catering facilities, arenas and convention centers. A few of the places that he has worked include Abigael’s Hospitality Group, Tavern on the Green, Madison Square Garden, Barclay Arena, and Jacob Javits Convention Center.
At Russo’s Fresh Gourmet, Jigi offers sales, operation and logistical expertise to the contract feeding operation. His primary focus is recruiting city and government food contracts. Those contracts have included DSNY, DFTA, CACFP, and DHS.
Dana Ialacci, Food Service Coordinator
Dana is an accomplished logistics coordinator and relationship manager with a proven track record in ensuring seamless execution and unparalleled customer satisfaction. She has been with Russo’s Hospitality Group for over a decade. With a deep commitment to excellence and a remarkable ability to manage multiple tasks, Dana's expertise extends to the intricate scheduling of daily operations. Her ability to coordinate emergency orders and logistics on short notice is a testament to her quick thinking and problem-solving skills. As a key contact within our organization, Dana is on-call 24/7, ready to manage and ensure next-day deliveries.