Nadia Santini Explained

Nadia Santini
Style:Italian cuisine
Ratings:
  • Michelin stars
Restaurants:
Television:
  • Three Stars (documentary)

Nadia Santini is an Italian chef, best known for her restaurant Dal Pescatore, in Canneto sull'Oglio, Lombardy which has held three Michelin stars since 1996.[1]

Biography

Santini was taught to cook at a young age by her future husband's great-grandmother, Teresa. She has a cooking philosophy around the idea of a small restaurant, saying "I think it is impossible for a woman to run a kitchen that serves 100 people. I can't give my heart to a dish if I am cooking for more than 30."[2]

Her restaurant Dal Pescatore is located in the hamlet of Canneto sull'Oglio in Lombardy, Italy.[3] The restaurant is an extended trattoria, and was originally opened by Santini's husband's great-grandparents in the 1910s.[4] Nadia took over the running of the restaurant alongside her husband in 1974.[5] In 1996, the restaurant was awarded three Michelin stars, with Santini becoming the first female Italian chef to earn that level of accolade.[6] [7]

In 2010, German filmmaker Lutz Hachmeister created a television documentary called Three Stars, which Santini starred in amongst other chefs from Michelin starred restaurants. Her appearance in the documentary stood out, being described by critics as a "radiant personality and gentle, Old World approach to the nurturing of recipes, colleagues, and clientele provide the counterpoint to frenetic, confrontational kitchens run by scientist-chefs."[8]

Santini has been highly regarded by other chefs, including French chef Anne-Sophie Pic who described her as "extraordinary" and an inspiration,[9] and British chef Angela Hartnett has described Santini as one of her "heroes".[10]

2013 saw Nadia being christened 2013 Veuve Clicquot World's Best Female chef from The World's 50 Best Restaurants by Restaurant magazine.[11]

Personal life

Santini is married to her husband Antonio, who also works in Santini's restaurant but in reception rather than the kitchen.[3] They met whilst at the University of Milan.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dal Pescatore – Runate - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant. 2020-08-11. MICHELIN Guide. en-IT.
  2. News: Ferguson. Euan. Michelin women. 18 August 2012. The Observer. 25 March 2007.
  3. News: Hopkinson. Simon. Star Struck. https://archive.today/20130125062725/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4875767.html. dead. 25 January 2013. 18 August 2012. The Independent. 5 July 1997.
  4. News: Trattoria tradition spurs women chefs. https://web.archive.org/web/20140611100554/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8850839.html. dead. 11 June 2014. 18 August 2012. China Daily. 13 May 2006.
  5. News: Mariani. John. The Best Restaurant in the World. https://web.archive.org/web/20140611100558/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-54467505.html. dead. 11 June 2014. 18 August 2012. Esquire. 1 May 1999.
  6. News: World's 50 best restaurants 2011. 20 August 2012. The Guardian. 18 April 2011.
  7. Web site: Dal Pescatore. The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants. 18 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120505005646/http://www.theworlds50best.com/awards/1-50-winners/dal-pescatore/. 5 May 2012.
  8. News: Page. Janice. World's top-ranked chefs shoot for the stars. https://web.archive.org/web/20140611100547/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-30353112.html. dead. 11 June 2014. 18 August 2012. The Boston Globe. 21 December 2011.
  9. News: Long. Louisa. Anne-Sophie Pic. https://archive.today/20130125064131/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-28940533.html. dead. 25 January 2013. 18 August 2012. The Independent on Sunday. 19 June 2011.
  10. News: Harnett. Angela. Women in White. https://archive.today/20130125181112/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1972943.html. dead. 25 January 2013. 18 August 2012. The Independent on Sunday. 16 October 2005.
  11. Web site: Archived copy. 2012-08-18. 2012-08-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20120827141448/http://www.theworlds50best.com/awards/best-female-chef/. dead.
  12. News: Star Chefs. 18 August 2012. Lavazza.