Chef
Massimo Bottura
Chef Patron, Osteria Francescana
- Discipline
- Chef
- Based in
- Modena, Italy
Known for
- Chef Patron of Osteria Francescana, three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Modena
- Ranked #1 restaurant in The World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2016 and 2018
- Pioneering fusion of Italian culinary tradition with avant-garde techniques
- Founder of Refettorio social dining projects addressing food waste and poverty
i. Biography
The Making
Formal study at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia preceded the restaurant work, and the early record includes a brief 1986 period as a wholesaler of petroleum products before Massimo Bottura became owner of Trattoria del Campazzo in Nonantola, Italy. The craft then moved through service, ownership, and outside staging: in 1994, an internship at Le Louis XV in Monte Carlo placed Bottura inside a high-discipline kitchen context before the opening of Osteria Francescana. Contemporary Modenese cooking became the working frame with Osteria Francescana, opened in 1995. The later structure widened without leaving that base: Franceschetta58 launched in 2011; Food for Soul was founded in 2015 around food waste and hunger; Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura opened in 2018 through collaboration with Gucci; and 2019 added Torno Subito and Casa Maria Luigia. Taken together, the work shows a practice built across restaurant, product, hospitality, and social-use formats. “I am cooking like a kid every day.” Massimo has said.
The Current Work
The current practice remains the chef-and-owner role at Osteria Francescana, with Massimo Bottura also overseeing several other ventures. Outside the restaurants, Food for Soul continues as the non-profit structure for work against food waste and for social inclusion.
Signature
Signature dishes include Five ages of Parmigiano Reggiano.
Credentials
Recognition has come from restaurant guides, peer lists, and broader gastronomy awards: Michelin Green Star (2020), The World's 50 Best Restaurants: First Place (2018), The World's 50 Best Restaurants: First Place (2016), Three Michelin Stars (2012), Woodford Reserve Icon Award (2025), and White Guide Global Gastronomy Award (2014).
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Massimo
What is Massimo Bottura's current role?
Massimo Bottura is chef-owner of Osteria Francescana.
Where did Massimo Bottura train or study?
Massimo Bottura trained at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
What recognition has Massimo Bottura received?
Michelin Green Star (2020).
