Francesco Guarracino.
Francesco Guarracino.
Chef Francesco Guarracino is from a family of chefs, with his father being a revered two-star Michelin chef and started working in professional kitchens at the age of 11.
Originally from Sorrento, after graduating, he travelled around Italy, to Rome, Florence, Sicily, and Milan, to gain experience in the different regional cuisines of his home country. He developed his passion for seasonal and quality produce which are of paramount importance and shine through in all his creations.
Chef Francesco has worked at some of Italy’s most prestigious eateries, including Michelin starred restaurants. He was also privileged to work alongside some of best chefs in Italy, including Heinz Beck, Enrico Bartolini, Oliver Glowig, Marianna Vitale, Salvatore Bianco, Pasquale Palamaro, Gennaro Esposito and Moreno Cedroni.
Through these experiences, he learned the discipline and attitude necessary for success. His diligent approach and natural talent led him to excel in culinary competitions and has resulted in him holding many senior leadership positions in restaurants across Italy, Spain, England and now in the UAE.
In 2007, he won the Best Young Chef Award from the renowned Federazione Italiana Cuochi (Italian Chef Federation.) This same year, he moved to the UK to join the Italian restaurant group Piccolino, which has 22 restaurants across the country. After two years with the brand, he joined another UK based Italian restaurant concept, the San Carlo Group, as Development Chef and later Group Regional Executive Chef for the entire portfolio of venues. In 2011, he moved to Dubai as Executive Chef for BiCE Mare, where he helped build their reputation as one of the best seafood restaurants in Dubai, receiving Pro Chef’s 2015 Dubai Seafood Chef of the Year award.
Today, Francesco is the Chief Culinary Officer & Group Executive Chef at Roberto’s Dubai, where he brings his true Italian flair for fine dining. Injecting a sense of culinary theatrics, he has developed a range of new specialty dishes from around Italy, with table side cooking to give diners an unforgettable and exceptional experience. In order to raise the hospitality bar in the UAE, and to ensure authenticity, he has brought eight Italian chefs to work with him.
Adding to his accolades, Francesco took home the BBC Good Food Middle East Chef of the Year award and it’s been included in list of Top 50 Italian Chef in World. Francesco also been included for 2 years in a row in Caterer Middle East as one of the most influential in the F&B industry.
His passion for fine food goes so far as to import rare olive oils that have various flavor profiles to complement the different dishes on offer. Bespoke menus, one-off dishes and a personal style are key to Chef Francesco and he blends traditional and contemporary methods in the dishes he creates. For him, the ingredients are the king of the restaurant.
