There once was a time when Roberto Donna was the toast of the town. The Turinese chef and restaurateur ran the flagship Galileo, Bebo Trattoria (a favorite of Justice Scalia’s), and, over the years, places like Il Radicchio, Arucola, i Matti, and Primi Piatti. That was then.

Today Donna is a broke man. His only source of income at the moment is teaching cooking classes at his home. His restaurants have been shut down. He owes money and is being sued by former employees. The bookkeeping is a mess—numerous workers and vendors have complained about bounced checks. Two months ago he pleaded guilty to embezzlement. The IRS is after him. The County of Arlington is after him. But as he stated in court, “I cannot afford to pay them now.” And yet Signor Donna remains hopeful that his latest restaurant, Galileo III, will open in a few weeks. Needless to say, some people are skeptical.