Rito Vital, Culinary Director, Special Programs
From his roots in the rich culinary traditions of his native Mexico to his experience at the upper reaches of the Los Angeles restaurant and catering industry, Rito Vital's extraordinary range of influences shapes his unique contributions as Culinary Director of Specials at Freshology.
From his youth in Jerez, Mexico, Rito absorbed the central role that fresh, local ingredients played in the region’s renowned cuisine. It was a lesson that was reinforced with his entrée into the Los Angeles restaurant world at the legendary Old World Restaurant in Westwood and Beverly Hills, whose reliance on fresh ingredients lay at the heart of its sterling reputation.
Following his apprenticeship at Old World, Rito began to make his name in the catering world, working throughout the 1990s for such top-line outfits as LA Catering Works, Food Works and Tres LA Catering. In this capacity, his cooking was enjoyed and admired by countless Hollywood stars and power players, with a client list that included such clients as Disney, HBO, the Grammy Awards, and numerous A-list fundraising events. With his success in these organizations, he was soon spotted by acclaimed chef Bill Dertouzos, former executive chef of the award-winning Beverly Hills restaurant Pangaea.
After serving as Dertouzos right hand at the chef’s Flatbush Catering Rito was ready for new challenges. Taking a position as private chef for Alesis Studio Electronics, Rito was responsible for providing meals for the company’s 225 employees on a daily basis. Having mastered the caterer’s trade, he found himself drawn once again to the restaurant world, where he further developed his talents at the popular Hollywood urban bistro Citizen Smith. Working as sous chef under executive chef Taylor Bordeaux, Rito particularly refined his skills in handling meat, drawing on Bordeaux’s vast store of experience in selecting, marinating and cooking every kind of cut.
Rito’s facility with menus extends around the globe, showcasing his abilities not only in his native Mexican and Latin cuisines, but in French, Italian and Mediterranean style cooking, as well. This versatility has made him an ideal fit for Freshology, where he has worked since 2005. With our organization, as he has throughout his career, Rito continually demonstrates his deep commitment not only to delicious, fresh and healthy food, but to a superior level of customer service that meets the high expectations of Freshology’s extraordinary clientele.
FRESHFACT: Almonds are actually stone fruits related to cherries, plums and peaches.
The Freshology Team
- Todd DeMann, Founder and CEO
- As one of the leading managers and entrepreneurs in Southern California’s competitive hospitality and lifestyle sectors, Todd DeMann’s passion for innovation and excellence has been the guiding spirit behind both Fresh Dining and his several prior successful endeavors.
read more > - Bruce Knight, COO
- With over twenty years of experience in the food and beverage industry, Bruce Knight knows precisely what it takes to operate a top-notch food service organization. read more >
- Rana Mansour, VP of Operations
- Bringing a unique blend of health care expertise, operations experience and communications skills to every project she oversees, Rana Mansour stands as an exemplar of the contemporary management professional, demonstrating a range of talents and perspectives as accomplished as it is diverse. read more >
- Michael Weldon, Culinary Director, Gourmet Programs
- With a background that includes hotels, restaurants, corporations, food service management, and experience gained from working alongside some of the most renowned names in the culinary world, Michael Weldon is uniquely positioned to meet the challenges provided by a groundbreaking organization like Fresh Dining. read more >
- Raffi J. Asadourian, Culinary Director, National Programs
- As one of the most highly-regarded chefs to emerge from the Los Angeles culinary scene over the last decade, Raffi Asadourian brings a combination of rigorous training, farsighted leadership and an impeccable palate to the position of Chef de Cuisine at Fresh Dining. read more >
- Rito Vital, Culinary Director, Special Programs
- From his roots in the rich culinary traditions of his native Mexico to his experience at the upper reaches of the Los Angeles restaurant and catering industry, Rito Vital's extraordinary range of influences shapes his unique contributions as Culinary Director of Specials at Freshology. read more >
Advisory Board
- David Kramer
- David Kramer has consistently been a top producing agent representing Buyers and Sellers of major estates and unique properties throughout the Westside for 20 years. His expertise and talent have made him a recognized leader in the real estate industry. read more >
- Karl Hingel
- freshdining™ has retained the advisory services of Karl Hingel for the purpose of assembling, examining, evaluating and documenting the fresh business processes and procedures. read more >
- John P. Roberts, Senior Vice President, Interactive & Digital Media, GSN
- The visionary behind the launch of GSN’s groundbreaking interactive television services, John P. Roberts, GSN’s Senior Vice President, Interactive and Digital Media is recognized throughout the industry as an iTV pioneer. read more >
Fresh Experts
- Nicholas J. Yphantides MD, MPH
- Noted author (My Big Fat Greek Diet), consultant, speaker, healthcare executive and family practice physician and and community advocate. read more >
- Dr. Farid Zarif, Director, Nutrition/Dietetics
- Dr. Farid Zarif, MPH, ND, PhD, resident Nutritionist and Director, Nutrition and Dietetics at Fresh Dining™, Burbank, California, is the founder The Zarifian Method©. read more >
- Edward Jackowski, Ph.D.
- Fitness innovator, author and motivational speaker, Edward Jackowski, Ph.D. holds his B.B.A. from Baruch Business College and his Masters and Doctorate in Behavioral Management from International University for Graduate Studies. read more >
- Dr. Kelly E. Williams, MD
- Dr. Kelly E. Williams earned her medical degree from University of California and completed her residency at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Dr. Kelly E. Williams is currently practicing in Laguna Hills. read more >
- Dr. Charles L. Blum, DC
- Dr. Blum is a chiropractor practicing in Santa Monica, California since 1981 treating women during their pregnancy as well as children. read more >
- Dr. Walker Ozar, DC
- Dr. Ozar started his practice at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Two years later, he founded Beverly Hills Posture and Rehabilitation Institute. read more >
- Dr. Nicole Williams-Alexander, MD
- Dr. Nicole Williams-Alexander earned her medical degree from Howard College of Medicine and completed her residency at UCLA in Family Medicine. read more >