Born into a family of chefs (Giorgio helped out in the kitchen of his uncle’s Michelin starred restaurant when he was just five years old) Giorgio is highly regarded as one of the UK’s finest Italian chefs.
His love for food led to the Italian native achieving his first star in the Michelin Guide UK for Zafferano where he was head chef. In 2003, a year after opening Locanda Locatelli with his wife, Paxy the restaurant achieved its first Michelin star, an accolade he has retained every year since.
locanda locatelli - credit The Sun
Giorgio’s first job was helping his cousins make fine amaretto cookies for their pastry shop near Milan. His career since then has seen him work at The Savoy under Anton Edelmann and spend three years in Paris at Laurent and La Tour d’Argent. After a period travelling Giorgio moved back to London securing a head chef position at Olivo before opening Zafferano in 1995. The latter earning the chef his first star in the Michelin Guide after just four years of opening.
In 2002, after the closure of Zafferano, the chef opened a new restaurant, Italian inspired restaurant, Locanda Locatelli based in London. A family run business, Giorgio heads up the kitchen while his wife, Plaxy looks after front of house of the 90 cover establishment which has become known for its homely atmosphere and quality of food.
Renowned for its traditional Italian menu, Locanda Locatelli uses only the freshest produce imported directly from Italy to make exquisite and delicious dishes with a particular emphasis on fresh pasta and a variety of regional Italian breads as well as other classic dishes such as pizza and fish.
chestnut tagliatelle
The menu caters for all different tastes and flavours with an unfussy presentation and superb ingredients earning the chef an exceptional reputation for both himself and his restaurant.
Virgilio Gennaro, who has brought in exceptional examples ranging from Piemonte and Tuscany, has carefully constructed the wine list also including many vintage wines from less well known producers.
The restaurant briefly closed for six months due to a gas explosion reopening again in March 2015 after a £1.5 million refurbishment.
Accolades
Giorgio won best Italian restaurant at the London Carlton Restaurant awards for two years running and won his first Michelin star in 1999. A year after opening Locanda Locatelli in 2002 the chef achieved his second Michelin star, an achievement Giorgio has been able to maintain every year since. Locanda Locatelli also has three rosettes in the AA Restaurant Guide.
In 2006 he had his first cookery book, made in Italy was published which received best food book in 2007. This was followed by a second book, Made in Sicily, which was published in 2011.
In October 2016, Giorgio was awarded the Commendatore OMRI by Italian Ambassador Terracciano for services to Italian gastronomy, the equivalent of a British knighthood.
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