Francesco Mazzei

Francesco Mazzei (born 1973) is a world-renowned Italian chef, best known for championing the cuisine of Southern Italy in the United Kingdom and beyond. He is considered as one of the leading Italian chefs in the United Kingdom.

Biography Mazzei was born in 1973 and raised in Cosenza, Southern Italy. Before joining L'Anima, he was the head of St. Alban restaurant. In the same year, Mazzei's debut cookbook, Mezzogiorno: Southern Italian Cooking, was published.

In May 2023, Mazzei collaborated with Corinthia Palace in Malta to serve Italian cuisine in the hotel.

Among the dishes developed by him include Pastachina con N'Duja, a lasagna he developed based on the recipe of his mother.

Collaboration with Stanley Tucci and King Charles III In February 2025, Francesco Mazzei collaborated with actor Stanley Tucci to design a menu for a black-tie dinner hosted by King Charles III at Highgrove House. The event celebrated Anglo-Italian relations and the Slow Food movement, emphasising sustainability and quality in gastronomy. Mazzei crafted an Italian-inspired menu using predominantly British ingredients, such as Yorkshire-made pecorino and Scottish crab, while the only Italian import was Farchioni olive oil. He expressed being "blown away" by the quality of British produce, noting that the experience "really opened my mind."

Mazzei’s participation in the event was widely covered in the media, with reports highlighting his commitment to sustainable cooking and his influence on British-Italian culinary fusion. His approach to using local ingredients in an Italian-inspired menu was praised as an example of modern gastronomic diplomacy.

Awards and recognition 2019: Order of Merit of the Italian Republic