In the world of cooking, there is a special place where passion, love, and dedication come together to create incredible culinary experiences. Joe Faro is a renowned figure in this realm, captivating people’s taste buds across different eras. He is the genius behind Tuscan Brands, an extraordinary empire that showcases the pinnacle of artisan Italian cuisine. With his unwavering commitment to his craft and his Italian heritage, Joe has become a master of culinary excellence.

From the humble origins of his parent’s neighborhood bakery to the soaring heights of a thriving enterprise, Joe’s story is a testament to the power of unwavering commitment. It was within the hallowed halls of the University of New Hampshire that his true passion for the culinary arts and business took root, igniting a fiery determination to redefine the boundaries of food innovation. A visionary par excellence, Joe embarked on a quest to craft an unparalleled food and dining experience, where tradition met innovation in harmonious symphony.

A Visionary in Italian Cuisine

Joe is a culinary visionary whose passion for artisan Italian food and products has led him to create a culinary empire that spans across New England and retails nationally. His journey began with Joseph’s Gourmet Pasta and Sauces.  In a remarkable span of 18 years, Joseph’s Gourmet Pasta and Sauces evolved from a mere college business plan into the nation’s premier manufacturer of specialty pasta and sauces. It was the unparalleled success of Joseph’s delectable sauces that ultimately caught the attention of Buitoni, a division of Nestle’ Prepared Foods, leading to the company’s acquisition in 2006.

After Joe sold his company and took a break from work, he decided to follow his passion for delicious Italian food and opened Tuscan Kitchen in Salem, NH in 2010. It became very popular, so he expanded and created more dining destinations;  Tuscan Market in Salem, New Hampshire, Tuscan Kitchen in Burlington, Massachusetts and Boston’s popular neighborhood of Seaport,  Toscana Italian Chophouse & Wine Bar and Tuscan Market in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Tuscan Sea Grill in Newburyport, and lastly his latest venture- Artisan Chef Manufacturing Company with many more dining, retail and hospitality destinations slated for the future. 

At Artisan Chef Manufacturing Company, they make a variety of fresh and tasty products like artisan bread, fresh pasta, gourmet sauces, authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, calzones, and restaurant-quality prepared meals.

People love Joe’s restaurants because he is committed to using high-quality ingredients and traditional cooking methods, and he always ensures exceptional service. His dedication and innovative ideas have made him well-known and respected in the restaurant industry.

Joe’s vision was so big that he decided to create something extraordinary called Tuscan Village – a special place in Salem, New Hampshire, where visitors can find fantastic shopping, dining, living spaces, hospitals and office areas all in one mixed-use development.

From Corner Bakery to Culinary Empire

Joe’s upbringing in Lawrence, Massachusetts was rooted in his family’s bakery business, started by his Sicilian immigrant parents who chased the American dream. He actively joined the family business from a young age, learning the art of baking and the inner workings of the trade.

After completing his studies at the University of New Hampshire, Joe’s entrepreneurial spirit took over, and he came up with the idea for Joseph’s Gourmet Pasta and Sauces during a college business class project. With sheer determination and hard work, he turned this concept into one of the most successful Italian food brands in the whole country. His mouthwatering sauces and pastas were soon in high demand and were featured on the menus of well-known restaurant franchises like Olive Garden, Macaroni Grill, Maggiano’s, Paparazzi, Carrabba’s, Scoozi, Bertucci’s, and many others.

In 2006, Joe decided to sell his thriving company to Nestle USA. Initially, he enjoyed a brief retirement, taking some time to enjoy the success he had achieved. However, the food industry’s pull was too strong, and in 2010, Joe couldn’t resist the temptation to return. He made a grand comeback by opening his first restaurant, called Tuscan Kitchen, in Salem, New Hampshire. The establishment’s success inspired Joe to introduce additional spinoff concepts, including Tuscan Market, Toscana, and Tuscan Chop House. As a result, Tuscan Brands expanded its presence, establishing locations in prominent areas such as Boston’s Seaport, Burlington, and Newburyport in Massachusetts, as well as Portsmouth in New Hampshire.

In 2015, Joe embarked on a remarkable venture, acquiring the former Rockingham Park, a sprawling 170-acre racetrack. With boundless creativity and a vision for transformation, he converted the vacant space into Tuscan Village, a ground-breaking mixed-use development project. Within Tuscan Village’s boundaries, more than four million square feet of residential, retail, and commercial space emerged, boasting 2,000 housing units, a new campus for Massachusetts General Hospital, an outdoor performance venue, and an array of diverse restaurants, bars, and shops. This innovative “live, work, play” community quickly became a hallmark of Joe’s entrepreneurial prowess.

The unveiling of the first of two hotels in fall 2023, the Artisan Hotel, marked another milestone for Tuscan Village. This luxurious 165-room establishment featured a rooftop bar, conference center, spa, and a lavish pool, among other amenities. The development of Tuscan Village played a vital role in job creation, generating more than 7,000 employment opportunities. Its reputation as a premier mixed-use lifestyle destination in America was solidified when Chain Store Age ranked it as the fourth-best in the nation.

In 2020, Joe introduced yet another ambitious project, the Artisan Chef Manufacturing Co. This 150,000-square-foot kitchen and food production facility housed a team of skilled culinary experts who crafted an array of delectable pastas, pizzas, sauces, baked goods, and prepared meals. The company’s products were distributed to restaurants, specialty markets, and grocers across the country. Today, Tuscan Brands proudly employs over 1,500 individuals, a testament to Joe’s enduring passion for the culinary world and his unwavering commitment to excellence.

The Brand 

Tuscan Brands, a prominent food and beverage company, offers a diverse range of products including meals, sauces, gluten-free pasta, groceries, gifts, coffee, and cookies, among others. In addition to its retail offerings, the company provides various services such as catering, dining, delivery, and food services, catering to the needs of its customers.

Tuscan Village, recognized as one of the top five mixed-use developments in America by Chain Store Age, stands as a thriving post-COVID hub for new American living. It caters to professionals seeking a comfortable and secure work-from-home environment, while still enjoying convenient access to renowned shopping, dining, nightlife, recreation, and more. The village’s strategic location, just 40 minutes north of Boston, offers proximity to airports, public transit, and major highways, further adding to its appeal.

Creating a Sustainable and Harmonious Community

Emphasizing sustainability and climate-friendly practices, Tuscan Village is committed to creating a harmonious community. As part of its ongoing development, the village will soon introduce a world-class, 165-room hotel complete with a rooftop bar, luxurious pool and spa, conference center, and a selection of restaurants. Plans for a second hotel are also in progress. The village boasts miles of scenic walking paths, carefully curated wildlife areas, a manmade lake, and an outdoor concert venue. Its European-style street grids and modern housing options, available at a fraction of the prices in cities like Boston and New York, add to its allure. The culinary scene within Tuscan Village is flourishing, further enhancing the overall experience for residents and visitors alike.

This remarkable and forward-thinking community traces its roots back to a humble corner bakery in Lawrence, Massachusetts, where it all began. The entrepreneurial journey of Joe, the charismatic raconteur behind Tuscan Brands, is a captivating tale that details his family’s immigrant experience and his own incredible American success story. Joe’s unique entrepreneurial narrative is certain to engage listeners, keeping them enthralled with every word.

Website: http://www.tuscanbrands.com/