Franco Salzillo
Driven by a deep passion for wine and food, Franco is a food and beverage freelance writer with customers around the globe.
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Court of Master Sommeliers. Dallas. Advanced Course
Court of Master Sommeliers . Level 2 Certified Sommelier
Court of Master Sommeliers . Level 1 Introductory Sommelier Certificate
Cicerone Certification Program. Certified Beer Server
Swiss Wine Campus. Swiss wine expert
Wines of South Africa. South African Wine Education Course
California Wine Institute. California Sustainable Wine Ambassador
Court of Master Sommeliers . Level 2 Certified Sommelier
Court of Master Sommeliers . Level 1 Introductory Sommelier Certificate
Cicerone Certification Program. Certified Beer Server
Swiss Wine Campus. Swiss wine expert
Wines of South Africa. South African Wine Education Course
California Wine Institute. California Sustainable Wine Ambassador
EXPERIENCE
Azul Beach Resort The Fives. Playa del Carmen. Head Sommelier (2018 - 2019)
Mia Restaurant & Beach Club. Tulum. Beverage consulting (2017-2018)
Residente Riviera Maya Magazine. Riviera Maya. Contributor (2017 - )
Wine & Food Festival Cancún - Riviera Maya. Wine Director (2017, 2018)
Onsom. Wine Educator (2016 - )
La Casa del Agua. Playa del Carmen. Floor Manager / Head Sommelier (2015 - 2018)
Madre Tierra. Playa del Carmen. Beverage Director (2012-2015)
Mia Restaurant & Beach Club. Tulum. Beverage consulting (2017-2018)
Residente Riviera Maya Magazine. Riviera Maya. Contributor (2017 - )
Wine & Food Festival Cancún - Riviera Maya. Wine Director (2017, 2018)
Onsom. Wine Educator (2016 - )
La Casa del Agua. Playa del Carmen. Floor Manager / Head Sommelier (2015 - 2018)
Madre Tierra. Playa del Carmen. Beverage Director (2012-2015)
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
Mixology
Wine List Creation
Wine Sourcing and Purchasing
Wine Educator
Wine and Food Pairing
Inventory Management
Private Cellar Consultation
Wine Service- Bar or Wine Bar
Wine Service- Management
Wine List Creation
Wine Sourcing and Purchasing
Wine Educator
Wine and Food Pairing
Inventory Management
Private Cellar Consultation
Wine Service- Bar or Wine Bar
Wine Service- Management
Wine Service- Restaurant
FSA - Food Allergy Training
Food Safety Hygene Standards
Restaurant Management
Event Planning
CRISTAL - International Standards
AAA Five Diamonds
Wine Writer
FSA - Food Allergy Training
Food Safety Hygene Standards
Restaurant Management
Event Planning
CRISTAL - International Standards
AAA Five Diamonds
Wine Writer
Driven by a deep passion for wine and food, Franco is a food and beverage freelance writer with customers around the globe.
GALLERY
MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
- Top of the Class Introductory Examination CMS
- Top of the Class Certified Examination CMS
- Obtains the Court of Master Sommeliers Walter Clore Scholarship
- Wine Spectator Awards of Excelence
- Wine Spectator Awards of Excelence
- Wine Spectator Awards of Excelence
- AAA Four Diamond Award
RAVE REVIEWS
Great writer! I ordered 3 food articles, and they were all engaging, enticing and fun to read. It is evident that Franco Salzillo is knowledgeable about all things food, and he enjoys writing about it. All work delivered on time. Will be back again soon!
- Sathome, USA
Franco Salzillo wrote an amazing article on Maltese food for my travel blog. I recommend his services and will be using him to write other articles in the future.
- miteshchotai358, United Kingdom
Turn your menu readers into satisfied eaters. Highly grateful of Franco Salzillo's professional, swift and eloquently written food /drink descriptions!!! Our menu items are now descriptively addressing the human senses and will have the masses rushing to order. Chef Approved!!!
- smartgoats, USA
- Sathome, USA
Franco Salzillo wrote an amazing article on Maltese food for my travel blog. I recommend his services and will be using him to write other articles in the future.
- miteshchotai358, United Kingdom
Turn your menu readers into satisfied eaters. Highly grateful of Franco Salzillo's professional, swift and eloquently written food /drink descriptions!!! Our menu items are now descriptively addressing the human senses and will have the masses rushing to order. Chef Approved!!!
- smartgoats, USA
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Early in his career in the hospitality industry, Franco became a bartender/mixologist in a well-known Seafood and Steak grill in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Restless self-training and study allowed him to master century-old cocktail recipes, classic drinks from around the world, modern classics and avant-garde molecular mixology.
It wasn't long before his passion for liqueurs and spirits evolved to include the complexity of the wine world and with no time to spare prepared himself for the challenging Court of Master Sommeliers program.
In 2014 Franco obtained the Introductory Certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers in Las Vegas achieving the top score from more than 100 participants. One year later, also achieved the top score and won the Walter Clore scholarship on the level 2 Certified Sommelier exam.
Franco moved on to La Casa del Agua, an iconic fine dining restaurant as Floor Manager and Head Sommelier in charge of a 20+ staff and a wine program of 750 wine labels. His responsibility grew to manage the restaurant operations and service with the highest fine dining standards.
In 2017 Franco was invited to take the role of Co-Wine Director in this year's edition of the Wine & Food Festival Cancun - Riviera Maya, a very prestigious role in a world-class event. Later that year Franco took a step toward specializing in beer in the challenging Cicerone Certification Program.
In 2018 Franco took the opportunity of becoming the Sommelier at the Azul Beach Resort The Fives, managing the wine program for 9 bars and 10 restaurants, three of them, current Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winners, within a Four Diamond service experience and Cristal quality standards.
In 2018 Franco took the opportunity of becoming the Sommelier at the Azul Beach Resort The Fives, managing the wine program for 9 bars and 10 restaurants, three of them, current Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winners, within a Four Diamond service experience and Cristal quality standards.
Since 2019 Franco is a wine educator and an independent food and wine writer working with food blogs, cookbooks, winery websites, restaurants and companies from all corners of the earth. Find out more at https://www.fiverr.com/francosalzillo