Mark Bolchoz, Jr. is the Chef & Owner of Cane Pazzo, a neighborhood osteria in Charleston’s Hanahan. Named one of Zagat’s 30 Under 30 Charleston Chefs (2016) and FSR Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars (2024), he is celebrated for his interpretation of traditional Italian and Italian-American cuisine through Lowcountry ingredients.
A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Mark honed his craft in kitchens from Palm Beach to the Hudson Valley, including several years under renowned Italian chef Gianni Scappin. A Charleston native, he returned home in 2016, working at Peninsula Grill with Chef Graham Daily and The Grocery with Chef Kevin Johnson. He later served as Executive Chef at Indaco Charleston and as Culinary Director of Italian Concepts for James Beard-nominated Indigo Road Hospitality Group.

Together with his wife, Ariana, a fellow CIA graduate and expert baker, Cane Pazzo reflects Mark’s Southern upbringing and passion for Italian cooking. The restaurant’s name nods to his childhood nickname, Mad Dog, given by his grandfather, a longtime Hanahan entrepreneur. Growing up, he spent countless hours at his uncle’s popular King Street pub, Calder’s, and shrimping and fishing the waters East of the Cooper, shaping his passion for the cuisine and culture of the Lowcountry.

For Mark, Cane Pazzo is a personal expression of his experiences, whether it be honoring family, traditions (both Italian and Southern), or the local foodways.