14 Facts About Ettore Boiardi

Ettore Boiardi, known as Hector Boyardee, was an Italian-American chef, famous for his eponymous brand of food products, named Chef Boyardee.

Ettore Boiardi was born in Borgonovo Val Tidone, Italy, near Piacenza, in 1897, to Giuseppe and Maria Maffi Boiardi.

Ettore Boiardi later learned more restaurant skills as an immigrant in Paris and London.

Ettore Boiardi is the great uncle of American author Anna Boiardi, who wrote Delicious Memories: Recipes and Stories from the Chef Boyardee Family.

Ettore Boiardi supervised the preparation of the homecoming meal served by Woodrow Wilson at the White House for 2,000 returning World War I soldiers.

In 1917, Ettore Boiardi moved to Cleveland and worked at first at The Union Club, then became the head chef at the Hotel Winton, where he introduced a menu featuring Italian cuisine, including spaghetti dinners.

In 1928, Ettore Boiardi met Maurice and Eva Weiner, who were patrons of his restaurant and owners of a local self-service grocery store chain.

The Weiners helped the Ettore Boiardi brothers develop a process for canning the food at scale.

Ettore Boiardi sold his products under the brand name "Chef Boy-Ar-Dee" because non-Italians could not manage the pronunciation, including his own salesforce.

Ettore Boiardi continued to operate restaurants in Cleveland, including one named Chef Hector's.

Ettore Boiardi appeared in many print advertisements and television commercials for his brand in the 1940s through the 1970s.

Ettore Boiardi continued developing new Italian food products for the American market until his death in 1985.

Ettore Boiardi is buried at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon Township, Ohio.

Ettore Boiardi continues to use his likeness on Chef Boyardee-brand products, which are still made in Milton, Pennsylvania.