“Italian food is very traditional, very classic, it's also something that requires a lot of hands on attention,” said Matt Gallaher, owner of Emilia Italian. Whether it's romance, family gatherings, or celebration, Emilia courts customers with handmade Italian. “Anytime we get guests in for their first visit, we try to steer them near pasta,” Gallaher said.

“That's kind of our bread and butter. If you like that, you're probably going to like everything else.” As one of Knoxville's best-known chefs, Gallaher began dreaming up Emilia's on the second anniversary of his first restaurant, Knox Mason. But his path to the kitchen was unconventional. He got a degree in chemical engineering.