Francesco Dibenedetto returns to Claude Bosi's restaurant group as culinary director
Francesco Dibenedetto has rejoined Claude Bosi's restaurant group as culinary director, less than a year after leaving his role as executive chef at two-Michelin-starred Brooklands by Claude Bosi at The Peninsula London.
Claude announced the news on Instagram, alongside a photo of the pair together in the kitchen.
"Exciting news! Francesco is back in our team as culinary director of our group," Claude wrote.
"With nearly 14 years of collaboration, he was the driving force behind our success at Brooklands by Claude Bosi, earning us two Michelin stars in record time.
"Francesco will be working on existing projects and exciting new ventures. I couldn't be happier and let's welcome him with open arms!"
A decade-long partnership
Francesco left Brooklands in November 2025, with The Staff Canteen reporting on the move at the time.
He had been part of the opening team when Brooklands launched in 2023, going on to earn two Michelin stars within months, and had worked alongside Claude for close to a decade by that point, across Hibiscus and Claude Bosi at Bibendum before Brooklands.
At the time of his departure, Claude said he was not looking to replace Francesco, adding: "I've got a solid team and we just carry on."
Francesco's reasons for leaving were said to include wanting to step away from the hotel environment and pursue what Claude called "a new adventure”.
Speaking to The Staff Canteen in 2024, Francesco described his relationship with Claude as one built over years of close collaboration.
"It's not only a relationship between two people, but also a relationship between two chefs," he said at the time, reflecting on a partnership that began when the pair first met in December 2015.
{contribute-overlay}
Claude's evolving restaurant group
Francesco's return comes as Claude's group has continued to change shape over the past year.
Claude Bosi at Bibendum, his eponymous two-Michelin-starred restaurant within Michelin House in Chelsea, ceased trading on August 25, 2025, with its Oyster Bar following at the end of that month.
At the time, Claude said the priority was supporting the Bibendum team "into new opportunities within our group," pointing to Brooklands and Josephine as the focus going forward.
Since then, the group's focus has centred on Brooklands, which retains its two Michelin stars, alongside Josephine, the Lyonnaise-inspired bistro concept Claude runs with Lucy.
Josephine now has two London sites: the original in Chelsea, and a second in Marylebone serving Parisian brasserie classics, which opened in April 2025.
Francesco's new role as culinary director suggests a wider remit across those existing sites, as well as any new openings the group has planned, rather than a return to a single kitchen.
From Barletta to two Michelin stars
Born in Barletta, Italy, Francesco's career has taken in some of the biggest names in European cooking.
He trained under Michel and Albert Roux at Le Gavroche, worked at Joël Robuchon's La Table in Monte Carlo and Dubai, and spent time with Grant Achatz and Gordon Ramsay, alongside winning medals with the Italian national culinary team.
He joined Claude's kitchens at Hibiscus before moving with him to Claude Bosi at Bibendum, then took on the top job at Brooklands as chef de cuisine from its 2023 opening, before being promoted to executive chef.
No further details have yet been given on which of the group's "existing projects" Francesco will be working on first, or what any "new ventures" might involve.
Read more:
{{user.name}}