Nadia Santini
chef
- November 2, 2026
- 72 years
About Nadia Santini
Nadia Santini, 72, Italian chef (Dal Pescatore).
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Full Biography
|Nadia Santini (19 July 1954 – 2 November 2026) was an Italian chef, best known for her restaurant Dal Pescatore, in Canneto sull'Oglio, Lombardy, which has held three Michelin stars since 1996. She was the first Italian woman to be awarded the coveted three stars.
Early life and career
Santini was taught to cook at a young age by her future husband's great-grandmother, Teresa. She has a cooking philosophy around the idea of a small restaurant, saying "I think it is impossible for a woman to run a kitchen that serves 100 people. I can't give my heart to a dish if I am cooking for more than 30."
Her restaurant Dal Pescatore is located in the comune of Canneto sull'Oglio in Lombardy, Italy. The restaurant is an extended trattoria, and was originally opened by Santini's husband's great-grandparents in the 1910s. Nadia took over the running of the restaurant alongside her husband in 1974. In 1996, the restaurant was awarded three Michelin stars, with Santini becoming the first female Italian chef to earn that level of accolade.
In 2010, German filmmaker Lutz Hachmeister created a television documentary called Three Stars, in which Santini starred amongst other chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants. Her appearance in the documentary stood out, being described by critics as a "radiant personality and gentle, Old World approach to the nurturing of recipes, colleagues, and clientele provide the counterpoint to frenetic, confrontational kitchens run by scientist-chefs."
Santini was highly regarded by other chefs, including French chef Anne-Sophie Pic who described her as "extraordinary" and an inspiration, and British chef Angela Hartnett has described Santini as one of her "heroes".
2013 saw Nadia being christened 2013 Veuve Clicquot World's Best Female chef from The World's 50 Best Restaurants by Restaurant magazine.
Personal life and death
Santini was married to Antonio, who works in her restaurant, but in reception rather than the kitchen. They met whilst studying political science at the University of Milan.
Santini died on 2 November 2026, aged 72.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadia_Santini
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nov 2, 2026
- View article
- View record
- November 2, 2026
- Nov 2, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Nadia Santini's archived record and the sources above.
1.In which Italian region is Nadia Santini's restaurant Dal Pescatore located?
- A.Lombardycorrect
- B.Veneto
- C.Piedmont
- D.Tuscany
Dal Pescatore is located in the hamlet of Canneto sull'Oglio in Lombardy, Italy.
Source: Biography section
2.What subject did Nadia Santini study at the University of Milan?
- A.History
- B.Political Sciencecorrect
- C.Business Management
- D.Culinary Arts
Nadia Santini met her husband while studying political science at the Universita degli Studi di Milano.
Source: Personal life and death section
3.Who taught Nadia Santini how to cook at a young age?
- A.Her mother
- B.Her husband
- C.Teresacorrect
- D.A culinary mentor in Milan
Nadia Santini was taught to cook at a young age by her future husband's great-grandmother, Teresa.
Source: Biography section
4.In what year did Nadia Santini take over the management of Dal Pescatore?
- A.1996
- B.2010
- C.1974correct
- D.2013
Nadia Santini took over the running of the restaurant alongside her husband in 1974.
Source: Biography section
5.How many Michelin stars has Dal Pescatore held since 1996?
- A.Two
- B.One
- C.Threecorrect
- D.Zero
Dal Pescatore has held three Michelin stars since 1996.
Source: Introduction
6.What maximum number of people does Nadia Santini believe a woman can cook for while still giving her heart to a dish?
- A.10
- B.50
- C.30correct
- D.100
Nadia Santini stated that she cannot give her heart to a dish if she is cooking for more than 30 people.
Source: Biography section
7.What was the name of the documentary featuring Nadia Santini released in 2010?
- A.Three Starscorrect
- B.Dal Pescatore
- C.The Italian Chef
- D.Old World Cooking
In 2010, German filmmaker Lutz Hachmeister created a television documentary called Three Stars, which Nadia Santini starred in.
Source: Biography section
8.Which award did Nadia Santini receive from Restaurant magazine in 2013?
- A.Veuve Clicquot World's Best Female Chefcorrect
- B.Lifetime Achievement Award
- C.Best Italian Restaurant
- D.Best Trattoria in Lombardy
In 2013, Nadia Santini was christened the Veuve Clicquot World's Best Female chef by Restaurant magazine.
Source: Biography section
9.What is the role of Antonio, Nadia Santini's husband, at their restaurant?
- A.Executive chef
- B.Wine sommelier
- C.Restaurant manager
- D.Receptioncorrect
Antonio works in the restaurant in reception rather than the kitchen.
Source: Personal life and death section
10.Who described Nadia Santini as an inspiration and 'extraordinary'?
- A.Anne-Sophie Piccorrect
- B.Angela Hartnett
- C.Teresa
- D.Lutz Hachmeister
French chef Anne-Sophie Pic described Nadia Santini as extraordinary and an inspiration.
Source: Biography section
11.When was Dal Pescatore originally opened?
- A.1940s
- B.1974
- C.1996
- D.1910scorrect
The restaurant was originally opened by Santini's husband's great-grandparents in the 1910s.
Source: Biography section
12.Nadia Santini was the first Italian woman to achieve what culinary milestone?
- A.Cooking for over 100 people
- B.Being featured in a German documentary
- C.Opening a restaurant in Lombardy
- D.Being awarded three Michelin starscorrect
Nadia Santini was the first Italian woman to be awarded three Michelin stars.
Source: Introduction
13.At what age did Nadia Santini pass away?
- A.73correct
- B.71
- C.75
- D.69
Nadia Santini died on 2 November 2026, aged 73.
Source: Personal life and death section
14.Which chef included Nadia Santini as one of her 'heroes'?
- A.Anne-Sophie Pic
- B.Lutz Hachmeister
- C.Teresa
- D.Angela Hartnettcorrect
British chef Angela Hartnett has described Nadia Santini as one of her heroes.
Source: Biography section
15.How did critics characterize Nadia Santini's approach in the documentary 'Three Stars'?
- A.Frenetic and confrontational
- B.Old World approach to nurturingcorrect
- C.Modernist experimental techniques
- D.Scientist-chef style
Critics described Nadia Santini as having a gentle, Old World approach to the nurturing of recipes, colleagues, and clientele.
Source: Biography section
16.In what year did Nadia Santini die?
- A.2013
- B.2010
- C.2020
- D.2026correct
Nadia Santini died on 2 November 2026.
Source: Personal life and death section
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