OG: Approved - Christian Petroni
Featuring the Next Generation of Storytellers Rising from the Creator Economy
Welcome to OG: Approved—where rule-breaking creators shape the future. Hand-picked by Open Gardens, they’re not following the playbook—they’re writing the next one.
Name: Christian Petroni
Instagram: 653K Followers
Tik Tok: 93.4K Followers
Who Is Christian Petroni?
Christian Petroni is a Bronx-born chef, restaurateur, and Food Network personality known for big flavors, bigger energy, and a deep love for Italian-American cooking. Trained at the New York Restaurant School and seasoned in the kitchens of Naples (Italy), Petroni blends old-school tradition with New York swagger — and people can’t get enough.
He made his mark co-founding Fortina in 2013, a wood-fired Italian concept that quickly grew across New York and Connecticut. National fame followed when he won Food Network Star Season 14, earning a regular seat at the table on shows like Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, and Guy’s Grocery Games.
Now, Petroni’s carving out a new lane in digital media. Through Gabagool Media — his content and consulting company — he’s building a full-on food universe: merch, recipes, events, and collaborations that keep fans fed and inspired. That includes launching an ‘edible NFT’ with 8it, hosting pop-up pizza parties, and developing his debut cookbook, PARM TO TABLE.
Most recently, Petroni has been inviting followers straight into his kitchen via a wave of online videos that showcase his family’s favorite recipes. From baked ziti to chicken marsala, it’s all shot at home, full of heart, and cooked the way it’s been done for generations. It’s not just content — it’s community.
And back in the Bronx, things have come full circle. In 2024, Petroni partnered with the New York Yankees to bring his signature dishes — like cheesy garlic bread meatballs and his espresso-soaked Petroni Tiramisu to Yankee Stadium (served in a souvenir helmet, naturally).
Christian Petroni is more than a chef — he’s a cultural force, bridging the gap between heritage and hype, old-world recipes and next-gen platforms. Whether it’s in the stadium, on screen, or straight from his stove, the message is the same: pull up a chair, there’s always room at the table.
Three Things We Like About Christian Petroni
1. Cooking with the door wide open: Petroni doesn’t just post recipes — he invites you in. You’re not watching a chef perform; you’re pulling up a chair in his actual kitchen. It’s messy, it’s soulful, and it feels like home — because it is.
2. Building community, not just content: His videos are more than cooking demos — they’re living stories. Family traditions, passed-down techniques, loud laughs, and louder flavors. He makes food feel like something we all get to be part of.
3. High-quality production with low-barrier access: Every video is shot with care and intention — clean visuals, rich sound, and close-up technique. It’s premium content, but never precious. Petroni shows you how to make real-deal dishes with real access. No studio kitchen, no smoke and mirrors — just you, him, and the food.
