Born and raised in Forli, Emilia Romagna, Northern Italy, Matteo was introduced to fresh pasta making and the importance of using fresh and local produce from a young age, by his beloved Nonna Pia. During his years studying his Masters degree in Food Science and Technology at the University of Bologna, Matteo discovered a passion for wine, which quickly and a keen interest in cooking quickly followed. He started working as a kitchen hand at a seaside restaurant in Milano Marittima and then sculpting his journey through carefully selected restaurants where he wanted to complete a "stage" and learn the craft from equally passionate chefs.
After meeting his future wife Fiona in the Victorian Pyrenees while working as a vintage assistant winemaker in 2005, Matteo returned to Italy and joined the culinary team at Academia Barilla in Parma where he worked alongside some of the best chefs and food producers in Europe and discovered his talent as a teacher.
In late 2011, Matteo migrated to Australia with Fiona and their daughter Sofia, and he quickly fell in love with the Barossa region, the produce available at the weekly Farmers Market and the community. In December 2012, with the help of family and new found friends in the Barossa, the Carboni's opened Casa Carboni in Angaston. Matteo's focus has always been on promoting the wonderful produce the region has to offer and sharing his Italian culture through food and stories. He describes Casa Carboni as a "real family business" as he works solo in the kitchen whilst Fiona runs the front of house and when not open to the public they are managing all other aspects of the business from menu planning to sourcing produce.
Their two kids, Sofia and Filippo, now in their teens, are keen helpers during busy periods and school holidays, whether it's rolling out pasta or serving guests.
Casa Carboni has been featured on Poh & Co, Everyday Gourmet with Justine Schofield, Places We Go, Getaways and SA Life as well as in Delicious. magazine Top 100, Country Style magazine, Gourmet Traveller and Qantas Travel Insider inflight magazine.
