Oliver and Blanc lead tributes to Carluccio

JAMIE OLIVER led the tributes last night to celebrity chef and restaurateur Antonio Carluccio who has died aged 80.

In a post on Instagram, TV chef Oliver 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 with getting him “hooked” on pasta, and said that his “love goes out to his partner Sabina his family and his dear and close friends on this very sad day”.

Mr Carluccio, dubbed the Godfather of Italian gastronomy, was known for his restaurant chain Carluccio’s and for appearing on BBC Two series

along with chef Gennaro Contaldo.

Mr Carluccio opened the Neal Street Restaurant in Covent Garden in 1981, when he was named runner-up in

Cook of the Year. The restaurant was patronised by the Prince of Wales and Sir Elton John and launched the career of Jamie Oliver before it closed in 2007.

He co-founded the high street restaurant chain Carluccio’s in 1999 and was awarded the AA hospitality lifetime achievement award in 2012.

Speaking in Leeds last night, chef Raymond Blanc said Mr Carluccio was a ‘great friend’ and added: “Antonio was a great raconteur. He had such a love of life and was the best Italian I know.”

Mr Blanc was speaking at a celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of Brasserie Blanc restaurant in Sovereign Street, Leeds. Mr Carluccio had written more than a dozen books on Italian food. He received the Commendatore, the equivalent of a British knighthood, from the Italian government in 1998 for services to Italy. In 2007, Carluccio received an OBE from the Queen for his services to the catering industry.