Top 10 Famous Chefs in Italy

Italian cuisine has influenced how chefs around the world prepare and present food and the impact of Italian cuisine on the global food scene is indisputable. Italian food culture is famous for its simplicity and unique identity and behind every grand and splendid dish made are famous chefs. Italian cuisine chefs create the most exemplary dishes and this is why chefs from Italy are regarded as some of the finest and most highly appreciated internationally.

This article will introduce you to some of the most famous chefs in Italy, from Massimo Bottura’s whimsical interpretations of classic Italian fare to Enrico Bartolini’s philosophy of simplicity and balance to all other creative and intriguing chefs. All of whom have created outstanding dishes and recipes and have etched their brilliance in the global kitchen. Stay with us till the end of this article where we will give you tips on how to make lovely Italian dishes like a pro. 

Who Falls Into This Category

Italian chefs around the world are held in high esteem and respected. They have assisted in shaping and spreading traditional recipes from every corner of the boot-shaped peninsula. Whenever the subject of famous Italian chefs comes up, names like Massimo Bottura, Mario Batali or Giada De Laurentiis come to your mind. These are masters of Italian gastronomy who also stand on the shoulders of several Italian culinary giants who have led the way and placed their footprints on time.

These chefs represent the pinnacle of skill and mastery in the kitchen and have paved the way for other Italian contemporary chefs. These chefs have been instrumental in building and promoting this vibrant culinary landscape to a global audience. The standard has been set high for every other Italian chef who wishes to follow in their footsteps.

The Chefs

Italian cuisine is a product of outstanding chefs who have mastered the art of Italian gastronomy and influenced the world to reckon with Italian cuisine. Many Italian chefs who have passed through time were famous for their immense successes in the art of Italian cooking. Today, we have numerous Italian chefs who are also famous and celebrated for their brilliance. We have compiled a list of the top 10 famous Italian chefs who are leading the way in Italian cuisine today.

 

Massimo Bottura

Massimo Bottura is one of the most famous chefs in the world. Massimo was born in Modena, Italy on 30 September 1962, he moved to New York in 1993. He took lessons in classical French cuisine and he learned the basics of molecular gastronomy in 2003 in Spain. His creative approach to traditional dishes has earned him accolades globally. He is the chef patron of Osteria Francescana, his restaurant which is known for innovative Italian cuisine and he is honored with three Michelin stars in 2002, 2006, and 2012. The Osteria Francescana has been ranked twice as number one on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List in 2016 and 2018.

Enrico Crippa

Born in Carate Brianza in 1971, he is driven by his grandfather’s passion for locally produced food. He worked with some of the best chefs in Europe in the 1960s, then launched Marche’s restaurant in Kobe, Japan. In 2003 he met the Cretto family and in 2005 he started the Piazza Duomo. His artful presentations, his talent and his use of high-quality local ingredients are recognized globally and he is awarded three Michelin stars.

Nadia Santini

Nadia Santini took cooking lessons at a young age with her future husband’s great-grandmother. She and her husband Antonio are in charge of Dal Pescatore, a restaurant her husband’s great-grandparents started. The restaurant has maintained three Michelin stars since 1996 and Nadia is the first female chef to be awarded this massive accolade. Nadia is renowned for her mastery of regional Italian cuisine, especially fish and pasta dishes.

Gennaro Esposito

Gennaro Esposito’s remarkable career began in his hometown in Vico Equense, Naples where he was born in 1970. He grew up on his family’s farm and was inspired by his mother’s cooking. Having started working with his uncle, at his uncle’s pantry shop at age nine, he also enrolled at a hotel and hospitality school. These places taught him how to appreciate the technique of combining flavors, and the importance of respect, hospitality, and diversity and gave him a belief in limitless creativity. He started his restaurant, La Torre del Saracino in 1992 with his wife Vittoria. He has earned two Michelin stars and he is known to focus on only fresh ingredients to create authentic Neapolitan specialties like pasta, fish, and desserts.

Heinz Beck

Heinz Beck initially cooked in restaurants in Spain and Germany before coming back to the Rome restaurant, La Pergola, in 1994 where he was awarded three Michelin stars. Heinz Beck has also opened other restaurants in London, he is renowned for his innovative translation of classic Italian dishes with modern dishes and international influences.

Davide Scabin

Davide Scabin is renowned for a very successful trattoria called Combal in Turin however the restaurant changed to Combal.Zero and moved to the Castello di Rivoli Museum of Contemporary Art. Scabin’s Combal.Zero is highly regarded globally and has earned two Michelin stars. Scabin is renowned for utilizing unique creations inspired by his design-oriented experimentation with textures, shapes, ingredients, and temperature. Some of his famous dishes are the truffle sandwich and risotto with gold leaves.

Enrico Bartolini

Enrico Bartolini is a fine chef who is one of the first Italian chefs to be awarded three Michelin stars. He was awarded his first star at age 29. Born in 1979, he is the only chef in the history of the Michelin Guide to be awarded four stars at the same time. He focuses on enriching natural flavors of seasonal ingredients with balance and simplicity.

Carlo Cracco

Carlo Cracco’s early culinary quest began at Da Remo, a restaurant in Vicenza. He collaborated with a few chefs in Italy before he left for France to study French cuisine. He then returned to Italy to work at the Enoteca Pinchiorri, where he blended tradition and innovation and was awarded two Michelin stars a few years after his return. He opened a new restaurant named Cracco Peck, in 2014 he founded a bistro in Milan. In 2011, he started hosting the cooking competition show MasterChef Italia with other celebrity chefs. Cracco has been the president of the nonprofit Maestro Martino since 2012. He has also made appearances on Italian television, including co-hosting the first two seasons of Hell’s Kitchen Italia.

Niko Romito

Known for his commitment to simplicity and regional ingredients, as well as being self-taught, Niko Romito earned three Michelin stars for his restaurant Reale in Castel di Sangro, Abruzzo within seven years. Romito is prominent for reinventing traditional Abruzzese recipes by highlighting the flavors of local ingredients. Dishes like spaghetti with garlic, olive oil, and chili pepper or roast suckling pig exemplify his simple yet elegant style.

Cristina Bowerman

Cristian Bowerman was born in Apulia, southern Italy and after years of training in foreign languages, studying law, and learning culinary arts in the U.S. she returned home in 2006 and started working at the Glass Hostaria. The restaurant struggled for the first three years but Bowerman’s brilliance revived the business and she was awarded a Michelin star in 2010— Bowernan was the only woman honored with a Michelin Guide accolade that year. She is known for her use of seasonal ingredients and creativity. Some of her creative dishes include Spaghetti with sea urchin and caviar and Roasted duck with black truffle and foie gras.

Conclusion

Italian food is beloved around the world for its bold flavors and regional diversity. With practice, anyone can become skilled at preparing classic Italian dishes like pasta, pizza, risotto, lasagna, bolognese sauce, cacio e pepe, and tiramisu.

Whenever you are in New York City, these places highlighted below should be your first stop to have great Italian recipes.

SESAMO Restaurant is a New York jewel, and our restaurant is a cozy place suitable for any Italian cuisine dining experience you wish to experience. Inspired by Italian cuisines and Asian traditional cooking methods, our restaurant offers Italian-Asian cuisine that is made from farm-fresh ingredients and high-quality imported ingredients. Located at 764 10th Avenue, New York, New York 10015, our staff is delightful to deal with, their customer service is impeccable and the restaurant has a lively bar that serves specially created and unique cocktails.