About Gennaro

Gennaro Contaldo is widely known as the Italian legend who taught Jamie Oliver all he knows about Italian cooking and is one of the UK’s best-loved chefs, as well as being author of a dozen best-selling Italian recipe books.

Born in Minori on the Amalfi Coast, Gennaro’s quintessentially Italian spirit and positive nature has made him a TV favourite. He regularly appears on Saturday Kitchen as well as his own TV show, the highly successful Two Greedy Italians, BBC2.

“The man cooks like an angel — and no ordinary angel’.”

Matthew Norman
Sunday Telegraph

Gennaro has worked in some of London’s most popular restaurants, such as the late Antonio Carluccio’s ‘Neal Street Restaurant’. In 1999 he opened his own restaurant ‘Passione’ in Charlotte Street, London, which was awarded Best Italian restaurant in 2005.

His first cookbook, ‘Passione‘, published by Headline in 2003, won Best Italian Cook Book 2003 at the World Gourmand Cookbook Awards and was short listed for the André Simon Award.

In collaboration with his wife, Liz Przybylski, and his sister, Adriana Contaldo, Gennaro has published many other books on Italian cooking.  With Liz writing the text and Adriana testing recipes, the books are a true family affair keeping Italian traditional well and truly alive.  Gennaro’s Limoni, published by Pavilion, is a foodie’s must, celebrating and sharing Gennaro’s love of lemons, Italy’s favourite fruit and recipes that they star in.  His latest book, Gennaro’s Hidden Italy, is a labour of love which took Liz and Gennaro to many parts of Italy in search of unusual regional recipes, some only known in a certain town or village and others simply “forgotten” in time.

Gennaro starred in ‘Jamie Cooks Italy‘, a culinary tour that explores favourite foods from some of the world’s favourite destinations, and In November 2021, he and Jamie were awarded the prestigious Stella della solidarietà italiana – Order of the Star of Italy – at the Italian Embassy. The honour recognises “outstanding contribution” to the preservation and promotion of Italian culture abroad.

Gennaro is brand ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano, Birra Moretti (watch. their unique ‘Bring Your Own Table Event here), and Mutti, for whom he designed recipes and led a sampling tour of their famous pasta sauces. He also works with Italian holiday company Citalia, helping promote the best of Italian food and travel to his beloved Italy.

When he’s not writing and teaching masterclasses at Jamie’s cooking school, he spends time relaxing and cooking with his family at their cottage in Norfolk (available for holiday rentals to foodies and their friends) and scouring Italy for new delights to share with his readers.