Chef Giorgio Locatelli ‘I learnt English from Only Fools and Horses!’
Italian chef and long time Londoner Giorgio Locatelli spoke to Robert in 2017.
Giorgio Locatelli was born in northern Italy in 1963, where his uncle ran a Michelin star rated restaurant. He was first put to work chopping fruit aged 5, which helped him develop a love of food and desire to be a chef.
He first came to London in the mid 80s to work at The Savoy. In 1995, after a short spell in Paris, Giorgio opened Zafferano in Belgravia, where he earned a Michelin star. His own independent restaurant Locanda Locatelli followed and also gained a star - which was retained for 22 years until closure in 2025.
He now runs Osteria Locatelli at the National Gallery.
Giorgio has written award winning cookery books, has received the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for services to Italian gastronomy. He is a frequent face on British TV. We’ll be seeing even more of him with the recent announcement that he will be a judge on Celebrity Masterchef.
Robert Elms spoke to Giorgio Locatelli in 2017.
