Antonio Carluccio OBE
Italian Chef, Restauranteur and Food expert

Antonio Carluccio, the Godfather of Italian Cooking, is noted for his gentle manner, gruff voice and wild crop of white hair. The original celebrity cook he is responsible for bringing the joys of Italian gastronomy ‘out of Italy’. In September 2008, Antonio Carluccio, the much loved and respected Italian cookery writer, celebrated 50 years of championing, cooking and eating genuine, regional Italian food and wine.

Antonio was born the son of a station master and travelled the length and breadth of Italy which provided a rare and privileged culinary knowledge. In 1958 at the age of 21 he began to cook simple pasta suppers for himself and his flat-mate on a two-ring stove in Vienna. After school, Antonio had a brief spell in the Navy, was a journalist in Turin and a wine merchant in Germany before, in 1975, when he travelled to London and made it his home.

Antonio was quickly spotted as being a rare cooking talent and was awarded runner up in the Sunday Times Cook of the Year competition (1981). He was asked to take over the Neal Street Restaurant which he quickly turned into one of the hottest places in London playing host to Pavarotti, Prince Charles and Sir Elton John.

In 1983 Antonio made his first appearance on BBC2 in a programme about Mediterranean food. He subsequently became a regular on BBC’s Food and Drink Programme, Saturday Morning Kitchen, Market Kitchen as well as making several of his own programmes most recently, Antonio Carluccio and the Leopard.

In 1998, Antonio was awarded the Commendatore OMRI by the President of Italy for services to Italian gastronomy, the equivalent of the British knighthood. This was followed by an honorary OBE in 2007 for his services to gastronomy in Britain.

He has written thirteen bestselling books, including Complete Italian Food, Complete Mushroom Book and Italia. His latest book Antonio Carluccio’s Simple Cooking (September 2009, UK) is a distillation of his lifetime’s passion for food, full of Antonio’s firm belief that cooking, whether for oneself or for family and friends is one of the most loving of human skills.

Testimonials

"I wish to thank you immensely for attending “An evening with an Italian Knight” at the Italian Centre as the guest of honour.

Your exuberance, passion and enjoyment of storytelling was a showstopper. It was quite amazing to see a room of 350 seasoned 5 star diners all breathlessly silent, concentrating, listening to your every word and then within seconds erupt into laughter like they have been hypnotized at the snap of your fingers. Amazing!

The knowledge you impart, personal experiences and opinions you shared with us was truly memorable. And you sure know how to make us laugh! Thank you again. Wishing you all the best health and happiness and I look forward to seeing you soon the next time you are in Australia." Steven Blanco, Managing Director, The Italian Centre

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