Celebrity chef Antonio Carluccio dies
Much-loved Italian restaurateur, television presenter and food writer Antonio Carluccio has died, aged 80.
Antonio Carluccio. Photo: AP/Matt Dunham
His death was announced on his website, which described him as the “Godfather of Italian cooking”.
Carluccio was raised in the rural north west of Italy, but made his name in London with Neal Street Restaurant, first as manager, then owner, before publishing a string of books about Italian food and hosting numerous TV series about Italian food.
He founded the Carluccio’s chain of cafes in 1999, which has grown to nearly 100 outlets in the UK.
Carluccio travelled regularly to Australia, including as a guest in the early years of South Australia’s Tasting Australia food festival.
In the UK, he introduced a generation to unfussy Italian food, celebrating the glory of simple ingredients.
Fellow celebrity chef Jamie Oliver paid tribute to Carluccio, who was Oliver’s first London boss at Neal Street and an early mentor.
“He was such a charismatic charming don of all things Italian,” Oliver wrote on Instagram. “Always hanging out the front door of the restaurant with a big fat cigar a glass of something splendid and his amazing fuzzy white hair.
“He was an amazing food ambassador that will be sorely missed.”
He received an OBE in 2007 for services to the catering industry was awarded the Commendatore, the equivalent of a British knighthood, from the Italian government in 1998.
Godfather of modern Italian food, Antonio Carluccio, dies at 80. A very sad day. One of our heroes. https://t.co/N5mtqdpzkD pic.twitter.com/MBWrlxU2MA
— SBS Food (@SBS_Food) November 9, 2017
– InDaily