About

About ITA 101

ITA 101 is an authentic Italian restaurant that serves a limited, rotating menu with fresh, local ingredients. Chef Kevin Maher and the ITA 101 staff invite you to bring your favorite bottle of wine and enjoy gourmet Italian cuisine.

ITA 101 will give you a true farm to table experience. Chef Kevin only uses ingredients of the finest quality that are in-season. The menu is ever-changing. He truly believes in only using organic eggs and produce, sustainable fish and meats, and high-quality flour to create his dishes.

Chef Kevin wants to share with you his passion for authentic Italian cuisine and bring to your table a little piece of Italy.

Inspiration

Kevin’s passion for food was inspired by his grandmother. From a young age, he watched and tasted in her kitchen as she prepared traditional family recipes from their ancestral town, Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche region of Italy.

History

Upon graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in hotel/restaurant management, Kevin decided to continue his formal training at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, N.Y. After graduating from the CIA in February 1999, Kevin made his way to Italy where he apprenticed at Il Sol di Ronco on Lake Maggiore.

This one-year apprenticeship led to a stay of 14 years where he was able to learn from many different chefs who inspired him. He spent most of his time in Milan where he had the good fortune to join the staff of two Michelin star restaurant, Il Luogo di Aimo E Nadia. There, he learned the importance of fresh, local ingredients. He credits their high-standards for his mastery of pasta and risotto.

Chef Kevin also worked under a Sicilian chef and learned the use of citrus, olives, capers and fennel with fresh fish, which all remain favorites.

Other highlights of Chef Kevin’s 14-year culinary experience in Italy include his time spent at restaurants: La Brisa, Trussardi Alla Scala, Restaurant Il Calvi and Osteria dei Vecchi Sapori.

In September 2012, Kevin returned to the U.S. and worked at Il Pittore with Chef Chris Painter. Kevin prepared his pasta dishes to rave reviews until his departure in July 2015.

ITA 101 opened its door in October 2015, and we look forward to serving you for years to come.

Chef Kevin is a native of South Jersey, where he and his five siblings were raised and educated in Medford Township. Kevin is an alumnus of Lenape High School class of ’92.

From the Farm to Our Table

Good food starts with the best ingredients. ITA 101 uses locally sourced, farm fresh produce to serve you delicious, high-quality dishes. Dining at ITA 101 means you are helping to support local farms and other small businesses. Visit our partners to learn more.