Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore

The powerhouse duo renowned for their creativity and social initiatives

Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore are arguably the culinary world’s most famous couple, renowned for their innovative cuisine and impactful social initiatives.

Their flagship restaurant, Osteria Francescana, won the Highest New Entry Award in 2009 at No.13 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and ascended to being named The World’s Best Restaurant in 2016 and 2018, with Bottura also picking up the Chefs’ Choice Award in 2011.

Chef Bottura has turned storytelling into an edible art form, exploring territory and traditions, and charting elements of Italian life through the concentration of absolute flavours. This is complemented by the way the restaurant-cum-art-gallery houses an array of contemporary artwork, which is an ongoing passion of the dynamic pair.

It could have turned out very differently though. In the years after opening in 1995, the restaurant almost closed as conservative locals were resistant to the chef’s tradition-busting approach to the Italian kitchen. Backed by the calm determination of his American wife, Bottura persevered. Now the effervescent Italian is hailed, both at home and around the world, as the visionary who dared to rethink a mother cuisine so cherished and steeped in history.

Global recognition led to the couple funding Food for Soul in 2016, a non-profit organisation that opened a series of community kitchens around the world, from Milan to Rio de Janeiro, Modena to London, Bologna, Paris and Naples, promoting social inclusion and supporting people in need through the power of a shared meal.

Bottura and Gilmore have also been involved as mentors and ambassadors of Tortellante, a project where people on the autism spectrum learn to make tortellini by hand from some of the most revered teachers, as well as developing skills which often lead to employment.

More casual restaurant Franceschetta 58 opened in 2018, followed by four Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura restaurants in Florence (the original), Los Angeles, Tokyo and Seoul. 

In 2019, Gilmore led the creation and opening of Casa Maria Luigia, a 25-room guest house in the countryside in Emilia-Romagna, where guests have the chance to enjoy an immersive dining experience featuring some of Bottura’s most legendary dishes including Oops! I Dropped the Lemon Tart, Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano, and The Crunchy Part of the Lasagna.

This was followed by Al Gatto Verde in 2023, located within the grounds of Casa Maria Luigia and run by head chef Jessica Rosval, and Acetaia Maria Luigia, where Bottura's Villa Manodori balsamic vinegar is produced.

The author of Slow Food, Fast Cars, it's a natural fit that Bottura inspires the cuisine of Cavallino at Maranello, home of Ferrari, with his vision of the history and identity of the region. Plus, he opened the casual and whimsical Torno Subito in Singapore and Miami in 2024, offering crowd-pleasing pasta and pizza dishes made with Italian ingredients.

Through their culinary excellence and philanthropic efforts, Bottura and Gilmore have redefined the role of chefs and restaurateurs, demonstrating how food can be a powerful vehicle for social change and community building.

The Woodford Reserve Icon Award recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the hospitality industry worthy of global recognition. The accolade is voted for by the Academy, formed of 1,120 independent restaurant industry experts and well-travelled gourmets from across the world.

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