abouTdining

CHRISTOPHER LAMPO: By NICOLE PRIOLO

Christopher's World Grille: (979) 776-2181 www.christophersworldgrille.com

Very few people know what their calling is in life is at the age of seven, but Chris Lampo is one of those rare exceptions. Lampo, owner of Christopher’s World Grille, can remember a time when he was just eye level with the frying pan and demanding to cook his own egg.

Lampo’s parents and his entire family have always cooked. “We’re Italians; food has always been a very big part of our lives, so I just grew up loving food and loving to feed people,” Lampo explained. “A lot of times people will see me peeking out of the kitchen because I love to see that first bite. I like to see people’s reaction, and that’s been since I was a kid.”

Lampo grew up in the Bryan/College Station area and graduated from Bryan High School. He attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York and graduated in 1989 as a High Honors Graduate. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management from Florida International University.

Upon graduating from FIU, he worked for Houston’s Restaurants for a few years and then decided it was time to travel. An English chef he was working with suggested he get a job on a private yacht as a chef, so he decided to go to the South of France.

Nearly all the chefs there are British, French, or Italian, so it’s rare for a yacht to have an American chef. “So when [the guests] came aboard and heard there was an American chef, they almost were shocked and almost disappointed – some guests had to be calmed down,” Lampo said. There was immense pressure riding on the first meal, but guests were proved wrong and completely impressed with Lampo’s food.

Lampo was later hired by “Mr. P.,” who despite being a billionaire with numerous connections in the entertainment industry, was actually a pretty low-key guy. “I was part of his eclectic collection. I wasn’t too fancy. He was so proud of the fact that he had such an understated person that would surprise people so much.”

As Mr. P.’s private chef, Lampo not only had the opportunity to cook for countless celebrities, but he was also able to travel to numerous islands and exotic destinations. By the time Lampo headed back to the States, his travels had taken him to Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, the South Pacific Islands, the Solomon Islands, Papa New Guinea, the Kermadec Islands, and more.

When Lampo neared 30, he decided it was about time to come home. “I just decided that I don’t want to miss too many more moments with my family and that I wanted to start a family of my own.”

Upon returning to the B/CS area, Lampo opened Christopher’s World Grille and a few months later was introduced to Sandi Scamardo. “We shook hands, and my staff said I turned white, just turned totally white. I went straight to the phone, and I called my brother, and I said, ‘I just met my wife.’” Seven weeks later they were engaged, and six months later they were married. They now have two little boys, Luke (6) and Dominic (4).

Looking to the future, Lampo said, “My number one goal is that I want to be a good dad and a good husband, no matter what I’m doing with my life. So whatever business decisions I make, they cannot interfere with that number one goal. That being said, I would like one or two more opportunities to do different styles of food. I still have a couple of concepts left in me.”