Who Is Ruben Bondi?

Ruben Bondi, also known as Cucina con Ruben, is an Italian-Judeo-Roman chef known for his impressive meals and recipes on social media. He currently has a massive social media following and regularly posts cooking videos on Instagram as well as other platforms. He has made Judeo-Roman cuisine his area of expertise and believes it is the true heart of Roman gastronomy.

Early Life and Background

Ruben Bondì was born in Rome in 1997¹, in a family where food wasn’t just a daily routine—it was a way of life. He grew up surrounded by the aromas of home-cooked meals, with both grandmothers passing down recipes that had been in the family for generations. Judeo-Roman dishes, in particular, became a foundation for his culinary curiosity. It wasn’t long before young Ruben was elbow-deep in flour, helping prep meals in a busy kitchen that doubled as a classroom.

What about his education? His formal training came later, at the Vincenzo Gioberti hospitality school in Rome. From there, he didn’t waste time. He went straight into a stage at Il Pagliaccio, one of the city’s two-Michelin-starred restaurants—a high-pressure environment where discipline met creativity. Then came a stint at The Ned in London, where his exposure to global techniques sharpened his edge.

But Rome was always home. And when COVID hit, Ruben didn’t retreat. He adapted. With restaurants closed and gigs frozen, he started cooking on his balcony, filming short videos for fun. What began as a coping mechanism soon became a phenomenon. One pan, one phone, one balcony—and suddenly, thousands were watching.

Personal Life

Ruben Bondi is in a relationship with her loving girlfriend, Linda Halfon.² If you have been through his Instagram page, you can tell just how close he is with Linda. They are always cracking jokes while making videos and never fail to gush over each other in their videos together.

Net Worth

Ruben Bondi currently has an estimated net worth of around $500,000. He owes this figure to his content creation endeavors as well as cooking at private events in addition to collaborating with various culinary and food brands. Some of these brands include Heinz, Pietro Coricelli, Lidl Italia, and Mrs. Veggy, just to mention a few.

Interesting Facts About Ruben Bondi

Here are some interesting lesser-known facts about Ruben:

• Ruben started his viral cooking videos during lockdown by filming himself cooking on his Roman balcony—a quirky idea that unexpectedly launched his career
• Before going viral, Ruben had zero media presence. He was a private chef doing events and dinners—no TikTok, no Instagram fame. Just food.
• Unlike many modern Italian chefs who focus on fusion or fine dining, Ruben proudly celebrates Giudaico-Romano cuisine—a style with deep historical roots, often overlooked.
• His earliest food memories are from his grandmothers’ kitchens. Many of his recipes are modern takes on what he ate growing up.
• Ruben did his culinary stage at Il Pagliaccio in Rome—one of the city’s most prestigious and demanding kitchens.
• After his training, he worked at The Ned in London, an upscale hotel and members’ club, giving him international experience before returning to Italy.
• His first video was meant to be just for friends. It featured him cooking simple pasta in one pan—filmed vertically, no edits. Overnight, it blew up.
• Despite his fame, Ruben hasn’t ditched the intimate side of cooking. He continues to do private dinners and events—especially for fans.
• Ruben often refers to his online audience as “my family,” emphasizing the warm, inclusive vibe of his content. Many fans say his videos feel like hanging out with a cousin in the kitchen.
• Ruben makes all his content himself. No big production team. Just Ruben, a phone, a balcony (or now a kitchen), and his passion for storytelling through food.

FAQs About Ruben Bondi

References

1. famousbirthdays.com ↩︎
2. Instagram.com ↩︎