Chances are, if you have been to Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar, you have met Umbria Hospitality founder, Samad Hachby. If you have not had the pleasure of talking with Samad, ask for him next time you are in. His passion for food and life is absolutely contagious.
As you may have heard, Samad is adding a new concept to his lineup which already includes Mulino Italian Kitchen and Bar, Melrose Knitting Mill, and The Historic Wakefield Barn. His new concept is called “Pazza Pasta,” and it will be opening at Morgan Street Food Hall in September. You can learn more about it here, but we thought this would be a great time to tell you a little more about our fearless leader.
About Samad Hachby
This quote from a News & Observer article about the opening of Mulino in 2017 describes Samad’s personality perfectly.
“Samad Hachby is a flurry of motion. He’s cooking fresh pasta, simmering a pan of tomatoes, garlic and basil and speaking brisk Italian to a visiting chef, all while explaining to visitors his vision for his new restaurant…”
When you meet Samad for the first time, you already feel like you have known him for years and within the first few seconds of speaking with him, he is sure to offer you something delicious to eat or drink!
Samad was raised in Morocco. He then attended schools in Italy on scholarship before he came to the United States to earn a political science degree from N.C. State. Italian is one of the five languages he speaks, and he worked on an Italian cruise ship for five years.
In 2009, Hachby opened then Babylon Restaurant, a Moroccan dining concept, which served as one of Downtown Raleigh’s most vibrant evening and weekend destinations until the restaurant was re-imagined to the Italian eatery it is today.
In 2014, Hachby aimed his creative pursuits even higher (quite literally) and renovated the third-story space to accommodate the larger weddings, special events, and parties that his restaurant was being sought after to host. Today, the historic Melrose Knitting Mill sits perched high atop 309 N. Dawson Street welcoming guests to a true destination within the heart of the city.
In 2017, Hachby and his business partner Tae Park purchased The Historic Wakefield Barn in Wake Forest, which is one of a few dairy complexes surviving in Wake County today.
Source: News & Observer
Dine With Us Tonight
See Samad’s vision come to life and join us for dinner tonight. We look forward to having you!
