“My mission is to innovate with integrity, to share the essence of Italian culture, and to make Italy proud of what we are creating here.”

A man with long curly dark hair and a beard, smiling and holding a bottle of wine, standing in front of a background with yellow and green lockers.

— Chef Antonio Bevacqua

A plate with a toasted bread topped with fish and edible flowers and vegetables, and a separate bowl with grilled vegetables topped with cheese and sauce. In the background, a plate with a mound of vegetables and a sauce.

Our Story

Il Girasole was born from a lifelong vision: to translate the essence of Italy through flavor, creativity, and heart.

Chef Antonio Bevacqua, born in Florence and raised in Montecatini Terme, grew up surrounded by the elegance and hospitality that define Tuscany. It was there, among the region’s markets and kitchens, that he discovered his passion for cuisine and the art of genuine service.

A graduate of the Hotel Management School F. Martini, Antonio began his career in Montecatini’s distinguished hotels, advancing from sous chef to executive chef before refining his craft in Paris under Michelin-starred chef Paolo Petrini. He later returned to Tuscany to join Il Gallopapa, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Castellina in Chianti, where his approach to Italian gastronomy deepened through precision, patience, and respect for tradition.

In 2002, an opportunity with The Ritz, London was within reach, but a visit to a friend in Orange County shifted his path. A chance to join the team of a celebrated Italian restaurant marked the beginning of a new chapter, one that would root his culinary vision in California.

Over the next two decades, Antonio’s perspective evolved from European classicism to a dialogue between Italian heritage and California’s seasonal abundance. His collaborations with leading hospitality groups helped shape a new standard for modern Italian dining in Southern California.

In December 2024, his philosophy took form with the opening of Il Girasole, a contemporary Italian restaurant dedicated to balance: between innovation and authenticity, refinement and warmth, Italy and California.

Each dish reflects Antonio’s belief that cuisine is a language of place and emotion, crafted with intention, guided by seasonality, and expressed with soul.