Italy’s first three Michelin starred chef dies aged 87

Gualtiero Marchesi, the first Italian chef to obtain three Michelin stars passed away on 26 December, 2017 aged 87.

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The pioneering chef, often referred to as the founder of modern Italian cuisine, is regarded as one of the greatest of his time having helped train some of Italy’s most renowned chefs including Enrico Crippa, Davide Oldani, Carlo Cracco and Andrea Berton.

He was the first non French chef to receive the coveted three Michelin stars and was the first to hand them back after finding fault with the guide’s scoring system.

Born into the restaurant business (his parents ran the hotel and restaurant L'Albergo del Mercato in Via Bezzecca) Gualtiero opened his first restaurant on Via Bonvesin de la Riva in Milan in 1977. Influenced by French techniques, the restaurant became infamous for not serving pasta. Regardless, the chef earned his first star within a year followed by a second a year later. His third, however, did not arrive until seven years later making him the first Italian chef