Executive Chef & Partner

Piero Topputo grew up in Gravina Di Puglia, a small town in Southern Italy. His mother demonstrated early on that a satisfying meal in a warm, congenial setting is not only goodfor the body, but also nourishing for the soul. Topputo has strived to create that kind of experience for the people he’s served throughout his decades in the restaurant business. Inspired and mentored by his mother who “taught him everything she knows”, Topputo embarked on a formal education in Culinary Arts at the Hotellerie School in Matera. Upon graduating, he began working in food service at various hotels and restaurants throughout Italy and England. Topputo came to the United States in 1991 and settled in Los Angeles, where he began working for the Toscana Group as a cook at Oli’-Ola’ Restaurant in Pacific Palisades. He went on to open the group’s Toscana Restaurant in Encino and was eventually promoted to the position of Executive Chef at their Brentwood location. It was there that he met his friend and current business partner, Mario Sabatini. In 2009, Topputo took the position as Executive Chef of Caruso Affiliated’s Trattoria Amici at the Americana at Brand in Glendale, where he remained until 2014. Now, Topputo and Sabatini are able to fulfill their longstanding dream of partnering with the opening of Forma, which features updated versions of traditional foods that have been staples in his family throughout the years. When not in the kitchen at Forma, Topputo lives in West Los Angeles with his wife Gretchen, his three children and a menagerie of three dogs and two cats. ro Topputo grew up in Gravina Di Puglia, a small town in Southern Italy. His mother demonstrated early on that a satisfying meal in a warm, congenial setting is not only good for the body, but also nourishing for the soul. Topputo has strived to create that kind of experience for the people he’s served throughout his decades in the restaurant business. Inspired and mentored by his mother who “taught him everything she knows”, Topputo embarked on a formal education in Culinary

Mario Sabatini's family has been in the hospitality industry for generations, which ultimately influenced his decision to pursue his passion over 30 years ago.

Born in Villa Santa Maria, Italy, Sabatini grew up in the Abruzzo region of the country. At the young age of 14, he began working in his brother's restaurant there. After leaving to study Accounting at Istituto Tecnico Commerciale, his heart called him back to the hospitality industry. Upon graduating, he worked at a variety of restaurants and hotels throughout Italy and by the age of 23, returned to Abruzzo to open his first restaurant, La Corona di Ferro.

In 1996, not knowing any English, Sabatini decided to move to Los Angeles, where he took a busser position at Brentwood's notable Italian restaurant, Toscana. As his English improved, his natural ease with guests began to shine and he quickly moved up the restaurant's ranks to become manager. In 2005, Sabatini left Toscana to open Pecorino in Brentwood. Joined by his brother from Abruzzo, Pecorino quickly became a neighborhood favorite, known for its warm service and delicious Italian fare. After eight years at Pecorino, Sabatini is thrilled to open his dream restaurant, Forma.