It's been a minute since Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx broke up for good. And now, the former Dawson's Creek star is moving on with someone new. Katie is seeing chef Emilio Vitolo Jr., and the new couple has already been spotted out and about several times in NYC — whether they're grabbing a bite to eat, stopping to look at flowers outside a bodega, or just hanging out in the park. These two already seem to be falling in love, but who's the dude who seems to have so quickly captured Katie's heart?
Though Katie is usually extremely private about her personal relationships, these two don't seem to be trying to hide the fact that they're dating at all, which just goes to show that they may already be serious, even though they don't seem to have been together for all that long. There's still a lot that is a total mystery about this relationship … but as far as we can tell, Katie is super happy, and the feeling seems to be mutual.
Read on for everything to know about Emilio Vitolo Jr. He's a pretty fascinating guy. After all, and as far as we can tell, it seems like he and Katie may actually have some staying power as a couple. Who knows? This could end up being her next big, serious relationship. We wonder if Suri Cruise is ready for a stepdad….
In the Family Business
Emilio is a chef at a huge celebrity hot spot for Italian food in New York City, and what makes his work even more fun is that his dad owns the restaurant. He works at Ballato, and in an interview with In Style, he shared that his father opened the restaurant in the '90s, and since then, everyone in his family has pitched in, often working seven days a week.
Younger Man
Interestingly enough, there's a bit of an age difference between these two. While Katie is a 41-year-old single mom of Suri Cruise — who is now 14, believe it or not — Emilio is 33, making their age gap a cool eight years.
Emilio & Katie Were First Spotted Together in Early September
Katie and Emilio were first spotted together in September 2020, when they were seen dining out in NYC. There's no word on how they might have met — or how long they've been dating — but it seems like this relationship is relatively new. They're already pretty close, considering how often the paparazzi have caught them spending time together already.
Very Recently Engaged ... and Not to Katie
As surprising as this relationship was to the rest of us, it seems like no one was more shocked than Emilio's ex-fiancée. Sources close to the lady in question, Rachel Emmons, told Us Weekly that he broke up with her via text message to start dating Katie, and that she was "heartbroken and embarrassed" to find out her relationship had ended this way.
Uh oh…
His Friends Say It May Not Have Happened That Way, Though
According to what one of Emilio's friends told Page Six, the breakup between him and Rachel wasn't as shocking as some would make it out to seem. They were reportedly having problems long before he met Katie.
"He did not break up with his fiancée for Katie," the friend said. "They had major issues that were insurmountable. He did break up with her, though, and their friends were shocked."
Hmm…
Super Charming
Another source told Page Six that Emilio totally has that hospitality personality, which isn't surprising at all, considering how successful his family's restaurant has become.
"While I was waiting for a table, he was next to me chatting with a group. One girl said she was moving to San Francisco," someone who recently visited Ballato said. "He said, 'Why would you do that?' Then he looked at me, waiting for a laugh. It was charming. He made me feel like I was part of the conversation. He’s got that knack that good hosts have."
Close With the Jonas Brothers
Over the years, Emilio has posted photos with all three of the Jonas Brothers — and Joe's wife, Sophie Turner — and it seems like they're close. (Go figure!) From celebrating each other's birthdays to going on vacation together, to hanging out at his dad's restaurant, it looks like Emilio is close with Nick, Joe, and Kevin.
He's Friends With a Lot of Other Celebs, Too
Case in point: This photo of him with legendary actor Danny DeVito on his birthday. As it turns out, working as a chef at a huge celebrity hangout definitely has its advantages, including becoming friends with plenty of the celebs themselves. It seems like Emilio is surrounded by good company, including the stars who enjoy Ballato.
Acting Chops
We can't speak for Katie's cooking skills, but there's at least one thing that she and Emilio have in common: acting. According to Emilio's IMDB page, he's appeared on shows like Inside Amy Schumer and Royal Pains, so while being a chef might be his day job, it seems that Emilio has some major Hollywood aspirations, too.
Katie Is Already 'Head Over Heels' in Love
As a source close to the new couple told Us Weekly, Katie is "head over heels" for Emilio already, especially because she feels like she can be herself around him and can be as open about their relationship as she wants, since he's not a celebrity himself.
"Katie is absolutely head over heels in love with Emilio," the insider said. "She has wanted a stable guy in her life for a while and has found that with him. She is happy she can be free and comfortable with her relationship with Emilio and doesn’t need for it to be private, like her past relationship with Jamie Foxx was."
Katie Has Already Met Emilio's Dad
Paparazzi photos from earlier in September show Katie and Emilio eating at his father's restaurant with his father himself, Emilio Sr. So now we know Katie has met the parents — or at least a parent — which just goes to show how serious things might be between these two, even though their relationship still seems pretty new.
Flirty Relationship
Another source close to the couple told People that Katie and Emilio have a very flirty relationship, which includes staying in constant contact via text.
"Emilio is very charming, flirty. It's easy to see how Katie fell for him," the source told the site. "She seems very into him. She keeps texting Emilio all day long and he loves it. He can't get enough of her attention."
Not Shy About PDA
As secretive as Katie was about her relationship with Jamie Foxx, it seems like all bets are off when it comes to Emilio. These two have been seen smooching and engaging in various types of PDA all over New York, whether they're out to eat, or hanging out on a bench in the park. Seems like they don't care who knows they're in love!
Close With His Family
Considering the fact that they all work so closely together, that's probably for the best! Emilio frequently posts both current and throwback photos with his fam — including his brother and his mom — and it seems like they're a pretty tight-knit group. That's something Katie will have to see if she fits into if she wants to stick around for a while!
Displaying Cooking Skills on the 'Gram
Being a chef seems like it's not just a job for Emilio, it's a passion. He dedicates a lot of his social media to his career at Ballato, sharing dishes he's making, photos with customers and his family at the restaurant, and behind-the-scenes peeks into the kitchen. Katie's a lucky lady to be dating someone who can cook so well!
