☀️Today is
🕘 5 min. Read
In Italy, the restaurant industry has always been a cornerstone of the country’s cultural identity. Over the past few decades, Michelin-starred chefs have taken Italian culinary traditions and reinvented them, giving classic dishes a modern twist that has captured the attention of food lovers around the world. As a result, the Italian food scene is now more vibrant than ever, with chefs who masterfully blend innovation with the deep-rooted heritage of Italian cuisine. Here’s our list of the top 10 best Italian chefs in 2024.
Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/ChefCarloCracco
Carlo Cracco is a chef well-known not just for his TV appearances but also for his innovative and refined culinary style. His restaurant, Cracco, nestled in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, holds a Michelin star and serves dishes that fuse Milanese tradition with creative experimentation. Cracco has earned a reputation for reimagining Italian classics, adding unique and unexpected twists. Among his most iconic creations is his “Spaghetti al pomodoro,” where the pasta is cooked in tomato juice.
Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/alajmogroup
Massimiliano Alajmo comes from a famous family of Venetian restaurateurs. Recognized as one of the best Italian chefs, Alajmo began his culinary journey at the hospitality school in Abano Terme. He started working in a restaurant in Moena in 1990, then moved to France to learn from culinary masters Marc Veyrat and Michel Guérard. After honing his skills abroad, he returned to Italy to take over the family restaurant, Le Calandre. In 2002, the restaurant earned three Michelin stars, making Alajmo the youngest chef ever to achieve this honor. He is still at the helm in the kitchen of Le Calandre, the heart and culinary hub of the Alajmo restaurant group, which now includes 14 restaurants.
Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/sultanociccio
Ciccio Sultano is a Ragusa-born chef who masterfully fuses Sicilian tradition with creativity and innovation. He holds two Michelin stars for his restaurant Duomo. With a deep knowledge of the ingredients and flavors of his homeland, Sultano elevates them through modern and inventive techniques. Signature creations include “Minestra di seppia,” a sophisticated squid soup that highlights the rich, briny flavors of the sea, and “Gelato al tartufo,” a unique truffle ice cream that offers an unexpected yet delightful blend of savory and sweet.
Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/piazzaduomoalba
A protégé of the legendary chef Gualtiero Marchesi, Enrico Crippa is renowned for his disciplined approach to cooking and his introverted nature, which keeps him out of the limelight. He has trained with other culinary greats such as Michel Bras and Ferran Adrià. In 2003, Crippa teamed up with the Ceretto family, which enabled him to open his own restaurant, Piazza Duomo. Since its launch in 2005, the restaurant has earned three Michelin stars.
Image Source: https://www.dalpescatore.com/it
The world of chefs isn’t just dominated by men! There are also incredible women like Nadia Santini who have made their mark on Italian cuisine. Santini holds a significant record as the first woman to receive three Michelin stars, awarded to her restaurant, Dal Pescatore. Signature dishes include the “Terrina di Astice con Caviale Oscietra Royal e Olio Extra Vergine Toscano”, a luxurious lobster terrine paired with Royal Oscietra caviar and Tuscan extra virgin olive oil. Another standout is the “Foie Gras con Salsa al Vino Passito”, featuring rich foie gras complemented by a sweet passito wine sauce.
Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/DODavideOldani
Davide Oldani is the chef behind the concept of “pop cuisine,” which focuses on simplicity, quality, and accessibility. Located near Milan, his restaurant, D’O, holds two Michelin stars. It serves elegant yet straightforward dishes at affordable prices, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and well-being. Oldani approaches cooking with an ethical and social mindset, leading him to work on various humanitarian and cultural projects. His dishes offer a perfect blend of flavor and health, tradition and innovation, sophistication and simplicity. Some of his standout creations include octopus with wild asparagus and fish tripe and Parmesan cheese ice cream.
Image Source: https://www.antoninocannavacciuolo.it/en/
Antonino Cannavacciuolo is one the most famous Italian chefs, known for his appearances on Cucine da Incubo and MasterChef Italia. Hailing from Campania, he trained at the F. De Gennaro Hotel School and refined his skills in Alsace, France. He also worked at Capri’s Grand Hotel Quisisana under Gualtiero Marchesi before opening Villa Crespi with his wife in 1999. Located on Lake Orta, Villa Crespi has earned three Michelin stars. Today, Cannavacciuolo’s group boasts seven Michelin stars across 11 establishments, including the luxury LAQUA Collection resorts.
Image Source: http://www.largineavenco.it/
Coming from a Jewish-Italian family, Antonia Klugmann has a multicultural background that deeply influences her cooking. At her restaurant, L’Argine a Vencò, set in a charming countryside house in Friuli Venezia Giulia near the Slovenian border, Klugmann creates dishes that reflect both her diverse heritage and her connection to the local region. Her approach is all about experimentation and finding balance with often unconventional ingredients. One of her standout dishes is “Riso, latte e aceto,” a tangy twist on classic risotto alla Milanese. This dish reinterprets the traditional risotto by incorporating milk for creaminess and vinegar for a distinctive acidic bite.
Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/nikoromito
Niko Romito is a self-taught chef, celebrated for his simple cuisine which emphasizes the purity of ingredients. Born in 1974 in Castel di Sangro, he initially studied economics in Rome before making a pivotal change in his life. Since 2000, he’s been running the Reale restaurant in Rivisondoli alongside Cristiana Romito, transforming what was once a family pastry shop into a culinary landmark. Now holding 3 Michelin stars, Reale has gained international acclaim. In 2011, the Romitos relocated Reale to Castel di Sangro, setting it in a former monastery that now also houses a boutique hotel and the Niko Romito culinary academy.
Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/chefcristinabowerman
Among the top Italian chefs is the Michelin-starred Cristina Bowerman. Born in Puglia, she first earned a law degree in Italy before moving to the United States. In San Francisco, she began working in a coffee house and discovered her true passion for cooking. After earning a degree in Culinary Arts in Austin, Texas, Bowerman returned to Rome and joined Glass Hostaria, a rising star in the restaurant scene. In 2010, she earned a Michelin star.
Please complete the form below, we will get back to you as soon as possible to discuss the final details before shipping your award through DHL. Thank you!
