Gennaro Contaldo

Gennaro Contaldo is a celebrated Italian chef and restaurateur known for his authentic Italian cuisine and his mentorship of Jamie Oliver. After opening his acclaimed London restaurant, Passione, in Charlotte Street in 1999, Gennaro Contaldo quickly established himself as a prominent figure in authentic Italian cuisine. Passione gained significant recognition, culminating in the prestigious ‘Best Italian Restaurant 2005’ award from the Tio Pepe Restaurant Awards. Prior to launching his own venture, Contaldo honed his skills in various esteemed London kitchens, notably at Antonio Carluccio’s Neal Street Restaurant in Covent Garden throughout the 1990s.

On screen, he made notable appearances in ‘Jamie Cooks Italy’ in 2018 and was featured in the critically acclaimed ‘Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy’ in 2022, further extending his reach to global audiences. Demonstrating his enduring dedication to Italian culinary traditions, Contaldo has maintained a consistent release schedule in recent years. In 2023, he released ‘Gennaro’s Cucina Rustica’, followed by two new titles in 2024: ‘Gennaro’s Verdure’ and ‘Slow’. These recent works continue to champion fresh, seasonal ingredients and authentic techniques, reinforcing his status as one of the most respected and recognized voices in Italian gastronomy worldwide.