About Chef Umberto

Chef Umberto Turelli is a restaurateur, entrepreneur, food influencer, and philanthropist at the Jersey Shore. He is the Host of YouTube’s What’s Cookin’ Jersey Shore and founded Cookin’ for the Cause, a non-profit to benefit local charities. His interest in the food business comes first and foremost from his mother’s classic Italian cooking. Growing up with a respect for food, family recipes, and the memories they create, instilled in him a true love for the art of cooking. He started with three of his own Pizzeria/Restaurants and then moved into the service division of the food industry as a regional manager and took part in demos with various chefs across the country. After twelve years, the itch to own a restaurant steered him to Trattoria Portobello. With a renewed love for the business and three restaurants later, Umberto is now concentrating on keeping that truly unique and fine dining experience at all of his restaurants.

 His current restaurant is Zi Marie’s Original in Toms River, NJ, and features Modern Italian Comfort Food. Umberto’s motivation and satisfaction is best described in his motto, “From my heart to my hands to you.” 

Zi Marie's original is located at 147 Rt. 70, Toms River, NJ