Nadia Santini
Nadia Santini | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Chef, Restaurateur |
| Known for | First Italian female chef to earn three Michelin stars |
| Notable work | Dal Pescatore |
Nadia Santini is an acclaimed Italian culinary artist, best known for her establishment Dal Pescatore located in Canneto sull'Oglio, Lombardy. Since 1996, the restaurant has proudly maintained three Michelin stars. Santini holds the distinction of being the first Italian female chef to earn this prestigious honor.
Biography
Santini’s culinary education began early under the guidance of Teresa, her future husband's great-grandmother. She advocates for an intimate dining experience, explaining that she cannot fully invest her passion into dishes when preparing meals for more than 30 patrons.
Situated in the small village of Canneto sull'Oglio, Dal Pescatore is a longstanding trattoria originally established by her husband's great-grandparents in the 1910s. Nadia assumed leadership of the restaurant alongside her husband in 1974. Achieving three Michelin stars in 1996 was a landmark event, making her the first woman from Italy to reach this level of recognition.
In 2010, Santini was featured in the documentary Three Stars, which showcased her "radiant personality and gentle, Old World approach," presenting a contrast to the intense atmosphere typical of contemporary kitchens.
Her expertise has garnered admiration from notable chefs such as French chef Anne-Sophie Pic, who described her as "extraordinary," and British chef Angela Hartnett, who referred to Santini as one of her "heroes."
In 2013, she received the Veuve Clicquot World's Best Female Chef award from The World's 50 Best Restaurants, presented by Restaurant magazine.
Personal life
Nadia Santini is married to Antonio, who collaborates with her at their restaurant by overseeing guest reception. The couple met while both were studying political science at the Università degli Studi di Milano (University of Milan).