Mario Carbone, raised in Queens, New York, was immersed in Italian culinary traditions from his family. After working in local eateries and graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, he honed his skills at top restaurants like Babbo, wd-50, and Café Boulud. There, he reunited with Rich Torrisi, leading to the creation of Torrisi Italian Specialties in 2009, which quickly gained fame.

The addition of regular Jeff Zalaznick led to the formation of Major Food Group. In a decade, MFG expanded to over 30 acclaimed restaurants worldwide, including Carbone, which redefined midcentury Italian dining. Mario now focuses on creative direction, including design and music.