First Italian 3-star female chef dies at 72

First Italian 3-star female chef dies at 72

(ANSA) - ROME, 02 NOV - Nadia Santini, Italy's first 3 Michelin star female chef, has died at the age of 72 having fought an illness for 12 years. Santini turned a country trattoria in the province of Mantua into one of the temples of international haute cuisine, the Dal Pescatore at Runate. "Nadia, surrounded by her loved ones, has passed away peacefully and ascended to heaven," her family wrote on social media, remembering her for her sensitivity, empathy, and love. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in Canneto sull'Oglio, where Runate is located. Born on July 19, 1954, in San Pietro Mussolino, in the province of Vicenza, Nadia Cavaliere began cooking out of love for her husband, Antonio; together, they transformed his family's trattoria into a world-renowned restaurant. She learned the craft alongside her mother-in-law, Bruna—without the benefit of culinary schools or formal internships—developing a personal style of cooking she liked to call "humanistic": one defined by warmth, respect for ingredients, and a deep attentiveness to people. Accolades followed one after another: her first Michelin star in 1982, the second in 1988, and the third in 1996. Since then, Dal Pescatore has never lost its status, becoming the Italian restaurant that has remained at the pinnacle of the guide for the longest time. In 2013, she was also named the "World's Best Female Chef" as part of The World's 50 Best Restaurants awards. Alongside Antonio, Nadia built a family business that is carried on today by their sons: Giovanni, who serves as chef, and Alberto, who manages the dining room. Yet, her talent was most evident in her ability to turn a dish into an act of hospitality—from her signature pumpkin tortelli to a bowl of broth prepared for a guest running a fever, every moment became an opportunity to care for those she served. "Transforming cooking into a universal language of love"—this was her philosophy. The Santini family has also received expressions of condolence from various public institutions. "With the passing of Nadia Santini, we lose a unique figure—someone who knew how to interpret local produce through a style of cooking that, rooted in the flavors and traditions of the Mantua area, went on to captivate the world," stated regional minister Alessandro Beduschi, conveying the condolences of the Lombardy Region to her husband, Antonio, and their sons, Giovanni and Alberto. "Beyond her stature as a consummate professional, we will remember her, above all, as a person—and for the lasting impression she left on everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her," wrote chef Eugenio Boer. (ANSA). Read article...