Informazioni su
Why We Created Ciao Shop Italian Imports
Meet the Founders Rachel & Leonardo Giarraputo
Vi presentiamo Leo e Rachel
Dietro ogni importazione c'è una storia
Leonardo e Rachel hanno fondato Ciao Shop Italian Imports perché credevano che Mandeville meritasse l'accesso all'autentica artigianalità italiana. Ogni pezzo è accuratamente selezionato per portare calore, eleganza e autentica artigianalità italiana nella vostra casa.
Founder & Creator
Meet Leonardo Giarraputo
Leonardo's connection to Italy began at home in Santa Margherita di Belice, Sicily, where he learned to cook alongside his family beginning at a young age. Those early experiences became the foundation of a lifelong career centered around Italian food, hospitality, family, and tradition.
Leonardo later moved to Orlando, Florida, where he worked as a chef and owner in five of the area's Italian restaurants from 1987 to 2015, including the opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom. Then, in 2016, he moved to Mandeville, Louisiana, and in 2017 opened Leonardo's Trattoria & Pizzeria, bringing the flavors and family recipes of Sicily to the Northshore.
His culinary accomplishments include his restaurant being recognized as the Northshore's Best Italian Restaurant & Best Bang for the Buck for 8 years in a row in addition to Best New Restaurant in 2017. Leonardo also competed in the World Food Championships in 2018 and participated in the Grammy Awards culinary team in 2019 and the Kentucky Derby & FIFA World Cup culinary teams in 2026.
But for Leonardo, the most important part of Italian cooking has never been the awards. It's the memories, traditions, recipes, and sense of family that come with every dish. Being from Sicily, he has a personal connection to the culture that inspires the Ciao Shop.
Italian artisans behind the collection
Hand-Chosen
A human eye behind every piece
Each piece in the store is chosen by hand, one at a time, so the collection feels personal rather than mass-produced.
Our Mission
What makes a piece worth keeping?
Every item we carry is chosen by hand for its craftsmanship, story, and place in your home. We import only what we love, small batches with meaning.
Our partners
Italian artisans behind the collection
Every piece at Ciao Shop Italian Imports is sourced directly from artisans across Italy, chosen for quality and character. Each find carries its maker's story.