After more than a decade in the culinary
business, brothers Jason and Dean Nole have
become one of Central New York’s most talked
about and critically acclaimed Chefs. Their
creations, Café CaNole and Ancora! have been
recognized by the Life & Times of Utica, The
Post-Standard, and The Utica Observer-Dispatch
due to their fantastic menu of delicious
one-of-a-kind creations. The delectable delights
the Nole brothers conjure up daily has been
branded a dining miracle by some locals of
Utica, NY.
Born and raised in Whitesboro, New York, the
Nole brothers developed a passion for fine
cuisine that took them around the world. The
elder of the two, Dean Nole attended the
Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY
and the prestigious Gruppo Ristorante Italianne
School in Torino, Italy. Fluent in Italian, Dean
cooked in two restaurants in Italy before
returning to the States. Upon his return, he was
a chef at the former Scamardo's Seneca Inn in
New Hartford and cooked and specialized in cakes
and pastries at the former Donna Marie's
Restaurant in Frankfort. He also cooked in
Manhattan’s Water club with Head Chef and
seafood maestro Rick Moonen.
Jason Nole also went on to study at the Culinary
Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY during
Dean’s international schooling. Jason then
worked with acclaimed Chef Todd English at the
world-famous Olives Restaurant in Boston before
returning to Utica, NY.
When the Nole brothers reunited State-side, they
began talks of opening their own café. After
months of planning, research and creation, Café
CaNole (pronounced Cannoli) was born in 1996.
Their first business venture together as
brothers, independent chefs and business owners,
the Nole brothers transcended expectations. The
Italian Pastry shop, located in East Utica, now
serves a variety of gelatos, pastries, cakes and
Mediterranean cuisine which keeps customers
coming back for more.
Having capped on the pastry division of the
culinary arts, the Nole Brothers expanded their
creations into developing a
Mediterranean-inspired restaurant featuring a
select Tapas menu, among other savory cuisine.
With the expansion and growing appreciation of
the arts in downtown Utica, it was perfect
timing. On February 9th 2006, Ancora! (located
adjacent to the historical Stanley Theatre on
Genesee Street) opened its’ doors to diners.
The first of many downtown renovations, Ancora!
has been credited with helping to restore life
back to the heart of Utica. Walking into Ancora!
diners enter a metropolitan, rustic and romantic
dining area with dim lighting. Open for lunch
and dinner, Ancora! is the dining jewel of
Utica.
With a cumulative staff of 18, Café CaNole and
Ancora! have become household names for locals
in Utica, as well as neighboring towns such as
Clinton, New Hartford, and Rome.
Accolades: Dean and Jason have been awarded the
Accent on Excellence Award by the Observer
Dispatch and have donated their time and talents
to various not-for-profits throughout our
region. Dean also auditioned for and landed the
lead role in the film ‘Come Away with Me’, which
was produced by Italian scriptwriter/director
Carlo Ventura. The film opened in the winter of
2004 in Utica and Manhattan.
