ABOUT TICO

​Tico is Simple.

A place that doesn't take itself too seriously, Tico has a fun, sexy atmosphere, delicious and unpretentious food, amazing cocktails, cold beer, lots of tequila, cool music and great people watching. Tico is all about your good time. Conceived by Chef/Owner Michael Schlow and designed by David Manfredi of Elkus-Manfredi Architects, Tico is a new and exciting style of restaurant; American at its core, yet influenced by Schlow's travels and love for Spain, Mexico and South America.

Chef/Owner Michael Schlow

 

With restaurants spanning the country, Michael Schlow is one of the most influential and respected chef/restaurateurs in America today. His ability to capture a variety of global cuisines and techniques has led to appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Rachel Ray Show, CBS This Morning, Nightline, and The Food Network. He’s been the recipient of many awards including being named “Best Chef in the Northeast” by the James Beard Foundation, “Best Chef in the Country” by Sante Magazine, as well as the “Culinary Award of Excellence” given out by Robert Mondavi to only 6 recipients a year. 

 

Schlow has spent his life cultivating his craft and learning the restaurant business the old-fashioned way, from the bottom up. Starting as a dishwasher at age 14, Schlow has excelled at every position in the industry. He worked his way up through some of the best restaurants in the world, and now as owner and concept creator, has shown the ability to continually produce restaurants that are critical, as well as financial successes.

 

His restaurants have been recognized as some of the best in the world by Esquire, Food & Wine, Conde Nast Traveler, and Gourmet. 

 

He is the author of “It’s About Time, Great Recipes for Everyday Life” and is regularly requested to appear and speak about the restaurant and hospitality industry.

 

Originally from Brooklyn NY, Michael travels extensively and enjoys golf, music and photography. He makes his home in Boston, MA with his wife, Adrienne and their two daughters, Petra and Axelle.

Executive Chef Leo Asaro

Leo Asaro is a passionate chef who has worked in some of the best kitchens in Boston, creating exciting food inspired by his own experiences and cuisines from around the globe.  

 

A Midwesterner who spent many summers on Cape Cod, Leo has a unique perspective on food that pulls from both St. Louis BBQ and New England clambakes. Coming from a big Italian family, Leo grew up in the kitchen cooking for holidays and backyard pool parties. Eventually, his interest in food and cooking became a career path, and Leo graduated from Johnson and Wales in Providence, Rhode Island. During school and after graduating, Leo did stages at several renowned restaurants, the last of which was 4-star French restaurant, Radius, where he learned the importance of attention to detail and exacting French technique.

 

During his stage at Radius, Leo knew it was the right fit. He accepted a cook position there and moved to Boston to expand his culinary knowledge and experience under James Beard award winning chef/owner Michael Schlow. Leo excelled at Radius, working his way up to becoming Sous Chef. Schlow was so impressed with Leo’s dedication and leadership abilities that he penned him to become Sous Chef of his popular Italian restaurant, Via Matta. During his time in the Via Matta kitchen, Leo explored the rustic Italian cuisines of the Piedmont, Tuscany, and Emilia Romagna regions, and he was promoted to Executive Chef within three years.

Now, after working together for over a decade, Leo has taken over the reins at Schlow’s Latin-influenced restaurant, Tico, creating yet another cuisine to add to his repertoire. 

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