Massimo Bottura

In the last ten years Massimo Bottura has become a leading figure in the new generation of Italian chefs. His work as an innovator and restauranteur establishes him as one of the most creative culinary minds in the world. His two restaurants, the three-Michelin-star Osteria Francescana, and younger sibling Franceschetta 58, are both located in Modena in Emilia Romagna, an Italian region with a rich culinary heritage. Ever since its launch in 1995, the Osteria Francescana has been lavished with praise by critics. It achieved its first Michelin star in 2002, a second four years later and the third in 2011. The restaurant has been listed among the world’s 50 best for the past four years, and is the highest-ranking Italian restaurant, with Massimo winning the Chef’s Choice award in 2011. At the end of last year, Massimo Bottura was crowned ‘International Chef of the Year’ by the Daily Mail newspaper, which named him as one of the world’s most innovative chefs today. 2013 saw Massimo Bottura take on a guiding role as Ambassador for Italian cuisine for the Unites States Year of Italian Culture, a programme of events designed to showcase the best of Italian culture and identity.