Umberto Menghi is a chef, restaurateur and born host. He grew up in Pontedera, Tuscany, studied in Rome and cooked around Europe and Canada before moving to Vancouver in 1969. In 1973, he started a restaurant revolution there with his fresh, authoritative food, and now owns five popular restaurants in Vancouver and Whistler. His commitment to preserving Tuscan culture and cuisine is evident in his newest ventures. For the TV series A Taste for Life, he explores the food, culture and landscape of Tuscany from the home base of Villa Delia, the cooking school and hotel he established in the ancient village of Ripoli.