Jamie Oliver has led tributes to the “charismatic charming don of all things Italian”, Antonio Carluccio, who has died aged 80.
Celebrity chef and restaurateur Carluccio died after a fall at his home on Wednesday. The chef, dubbed the Godfather of Italian gastronomy, had more work in the pipeline and was planning a trip across Italy’s Amalfi Coast next year, his representative said.
He was also working on a number of books and was in talks to appear on the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen.
A branch of Carluccio’s opened in Dublin’s Dawson Street in the 1990s.
TV chef Oliver, who worked with Carluccio in the 1990s, shared a message on Instagram. He wrote: “Hi guys, with great sadness I’ve heard that Antonio Carluccio passed away this morning.
“He was my first London boss at the Neal Street restaurant 25 years ago which was an institution and Mecca of wild mushrooms where I had the pleasure of working for him.
“He was such a charismatic charming don of all things Italian!! Always hanging out the front door of the restaurant with a big fat Cigar a glass of something splendid and his amazing fuzzy white hair.”
Oliver credited Carluccio for getting him “hooked” on pasta and that he found him “so very inspirational”.
“I also had the pleasure of making and producing his TV show the Two Greedy Italians with his life long best friend and partner in crime gennarocontaldo who were hilarious together!!” he added.
“He was an amazing food ambassador that will be sorely missed.
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