Antonio Carluccio

It was with great sadness that we learned yesterday of the passing of a much loved and respected member of the Quadrille family, Antonio Carluccio OBE. We had the great pleasure of publishing a number of Antonio's stunning books over the years and he will be much missed by the Quadrille team and readers alike.

Director of Publishing, Sarah Lavelle, who worked with Antonio on books such as Vegetables, Two Greedy Italians, and Pasta, described him as “a true legend, admired and respected the world over.” She went on to say, “it’s a privilege to have worked with him – a man of ready wit and great knowledge about Italian food, who inspired and informed so many people through his TV programmes and books. What a loss to the world of food. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and with the dedicated book teams who have worked with him so closely and happily over many years of publishing.”

Over the course of his career Antonio sold over a million copies of his books world wide, which, along with his successful restaurant chain, TV appearances and his great knowledge of food, cemented his status as the Godfather of Italian cooking.

Sandy Grant, Chief Executive of Hardie Grant Books said: “Antonio was one of the all-time great food communicators and our most prolific author. He was able to pass his passion and enthusiasm for all that is best about Italian food to his readers and any television or live audience. He was a friend to the foodie community across the world. I can talk to the friends and supporters he made on his many trips to Australia. His warmth charm and humour will be missed.”

Antonio Carluccio OBE

Commendatore Antonio Carluccio was an OBE, OMRI and a much loved and respected Italian cookery writer, cook, restaurateur, food expert and loved TV personality, he was regarded as the Godfather of Italian cooking. Raised in the rural North West of Italy, Antonio had a rare and privileged breadth of culinary knowledge.

Antonio was appointed Commendatore by the Italian Government in 1998 for services rendered to Italy, the equivalent of a British knighthood. He also received an OBE from The Queen in 2007 for services to the catering industry.

In 1981 Antonio opened the Neal Street Restaurant in Covent Garden, London, which traded for 26 years. In the same year he also was runner up in the Sunday Times Cook of the Year.

In 1999 Antonio co-founded Carluccio’s and it is his dedication and legacy which has made the restaurant group one of the UK’s most successful and well-known brands.

Antonio was awarded the AA Hospitality Lifetime Achievement award in 2012. Winners of this award are congratulated for making significant contributions to their industry, which have had a notable impact, and have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to progress in their field.

(Taken from wwe.antonio-carluccio.co.uk)