i. Biography
Mattia Pecis has led the kitchen at Cracco Portofino, Italy, since 2021, bringing to the Ligurian coast a style built on movement, discipline, and individual authorship. In this work, freedom is not an extra concept; it is part of the operating method. As Pecis puts it: “Fortunately, it’s something I’ve always had. Not everyone gets to work with this kind of freedom, and I’ve always tried to make the most of it.”
Coming Up
Training at Local Hospitality School gave Pecis the base from which to enter serious brigade work. From 2015 to 2019, he was in Carlo Cracco's brigade in Milan, where the demands of a high-functioning kitchen shaped his pace, accuracy, and sense of team discipline. In 2019, he moved to St. Hubertus in Alta Badia, working alongside Norbert Niederkofler until 2021; that stretch added another layer of rigor before he took on Cracco Portofino. Since 2021, he has been chef of Cracco Portofino.
Where They Are Now
At Cracco Portofino, Pecis’s cooking is grounded in immediacy. The work begins with what is present, not with distant reference points or abstract theory. “I am inspired by what surrounds me every day. I don’t have reference points; it’s really how I live the day, what I am surrounded by, so nature, sea, mountains, gardens, fish,” he says. In that approach, place is not backdrop but working material, and the landscape stays in constant contact with the plate. That input, he says, returns each morning and keeps the work aligned with what is directly in front of him.
Signature
Mattia's signature dishes include Risotto with sautéed lemon, purple shrimp, and sea urchins and rue and Spaghettone all'Amarena. Read together, they point to a cook working through contrast and clarity: citrus against shellfish, marine salinity against herb lift, and a tight grip on freshness that keeps the plates direct.
In Their Words “I am inspired by what surrounds me every day. I don’t have reference points; it’s really how I live the day, what I am surrounded by, so nature, sea, mountains, gardens, fish.” “All this for me is my source of inspiration every day, and it repeats every morning.”
Honors
Mattia's honors include Young Chef Award (2026) and Under 30 d'Italia (2026).
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Mattia
Where did Mattia Pecis train or study?
Mattia Pecis trained at Local Hospitality School.
What recognition has Mattia Pecis received?
Young Chef Award (2026).
