Giorgio Locatelli Chef, restaurant owner Country: Great Britain

Biography of Giorgio Locatelli

Giorgio Locatelli is a renowned chef and the owner of the restaurant Locanda Locatelli in the Marlebone district of London. Since its opening in 2002, the restaurant has gained a reputation as the best Italian restaurant outside of Italy and has held a Michelin star for eight years. For Locatelli, this success is especially sweet after the bankruptcy of Zafferano, his previous restaurant, which he blames on his business partners. Locatelli's talent earned Zafferano a Michelin star, but it also led to a strained relationship with his former employers.

Locanda Locatelli quickly became a favorite among the rich and famous, with celebrities such as Kate Moss, Madonna, Tony Blair, Sting, and Paul McCartney dining at the restaurant. Locatelli himself is a typical Italian, with long wavy hair and a passionate and expressive personality. He speaks quickly with a strong Italian accent and looks his conversation partner in the eye, inherited from his grandparents who owned a restaurant in Corzano, Italy. It was their restaurant that laid the foundation for Locatelli's culinary future.

Locanda Locatelli was the first Italian restaurant in London to receive a Michelin star, thanks to its simple yet artistically presented "grandma's recipes" and its slightly kitschy 70s-style interior. The restaurant is open seven days a week and rarely serves less than a couple of hundred people each day. Locatelli's success became so apparent that he was offered the opportunity to open a restaurant in Dubai, resulting in the Ronda Locatelli restaurant at Atlantis The Palm resort on The Palm Jumeirah.

Locatelli believes that food is almost like religion to Italians. He attributes this to Italy's historical and cultural diversity, with each region having its own unique cuisine. The country's unstable political system and lack of faith created a void that Italians filled with their love for food. Locatelli's own childhood experiences in his family's restaurant and his travels in Spain and Africa eventually led him back to Italian cuisine.

Locatelli is known for his attention to quality ingredients and his dedication to accommodating diners with allergies and dietary restrictions. Locanda Locatelli offers dishes without nuts, gluten-free pasta, and alternative options for vegetarians. Locatelli's younger daughter suffers from multiple allergies, which has influenced his approach to cooking.

Locatelli believes that the key to a successful restaurant lies in three elements: quality, hospitality, and consistency. He pays his staff well and fosters an environment where they can learn and grow. He also emphasizes the importance of creating a positive work atmosphere, as he believes that happy employees lead to a successful establishment.

Although Locanda Locatelli has held a Michelin star for eight years, Locatelli does not view the accolade as the most important aspect of his career. He opened his restaurant with the goal of providing a enjoyable dining experience for his guests, and the recognition from Michelin is simply a validation of his efforts. While he takes restaurant critics seriously, he believes that ultimately it is the diners' experience and satisfaction that determines a restaurant's success.