As owner of Bistro Don Giovanni, Donna Scala blends key elements that make the Bistro a unique dining experience.

Donna grew up in Virginia, where her family was in the hotel/restaurant business. Her grandfather, of Greek descent, had several different types of restaurants, which inspired her to follow in the family footsteps. Donna spent a year in the South of France studying her culinary craft. Upon her return in 1982, she opened a gourmet food store in Sausalito called Donarcy's, featuring pastas, soups and gourmet food to go with a French/Italian flair.

Just about the time Donna and Giovanni Scala got together, Claude Rouas of the well-known Auberge du Soleil asked them to put together an Italian restaurant for a Yountville location. The Scala's named and came up with the concept of Piatti Ristorante. After six years with Piatti Ristorante, Donna and Giovanni decided to branch out on their own and in 1993 they opened Bistro Don Giovanni, specializing in Rustic Italian and Southern French food.

Donna Scala is passionate about her creations, and only uses the freshest, finest raw ingredients from local purveyors as well as vegetables and herbs from the restaurant's gardens. The Scala's also produce their own olive oil from the olive trees located on the property.

In 1995 Donna and Giovanni opened Scala's Bistro located in San Francisco in the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. The year it opened, Scala's Bistro was voted Best New Restaurant nationwide. After five years, Donna and Giovanni left Scala's Bistro and now reside permanently in the Napa Valley, where they solely devote all their time to Bistro Don Giovanni.

Click here to see some of Donna's spectacular Recipes.