Italian celebrity chef and restaurateur Antonio Carluccio dies aged 80
Italian celebrity chef and restaurateur Antonio Carluccio died today at the age of 80.
His agent announced it this morning saying: “It is with great sadness that we announce that Commendatore Antonio Carluccio OBE sadly passed away this morning,” the statement said.
In a statement by his restaurant chain, he was called the “Godfather of Italian cooking” and said he will be “greatly missed”.
“Antonio was a much loved and respected Italian cookery writer, cook, restaurateur, food expert and TV personality. It isn’t just Antonio’s name above our doors, but his heart and soul lives and breathes throughout our restaurants,‘ a statement from the Carluccio’s restaurant chain said.
Antonio Carluccio was known for the Italian restaurant chain Carluccio, which was founded in 1999 and has 96 restaurants across the UK. He also appeared on TV programmes, including the BBC Two hit Two Greedy Italians, alongside chef Gennaro Contaldo.
The Carluccio restaurant was patronized by the Prince of Wales and Sir Elton John among many others
Before his death, he wrote more than a dozen best-selling books and launched his memoirs in 2012. In 2007, Antonio received an OBE from the Queen for his services to the catering industry and in 2012, he was awarded the AA hospitality lifetime achievement award.
