Gennaro Contaldo
Italian chef, cookbook author and cooking-video favourite, sharing the food of his Amalfi Coast childhood and a long friendship in the kitchen with Jamie Oliver.
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Gennaro’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus their backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Pavilion
YouTube
BBC Two
CookbookOverview
- From
- Minori, on Italy’s Amalfi Coast
- Moved to England
- 1969
- Makes
- Cookbooks, television and cooking videos
- Early milestone
- Opened Passione in London in 1999
- On screen
- Two Greedy Italians with Antonio Carluccio
Mini bio
How it started.
Gennaro grew up in Minori on the Amalfi Coast, surrounded by family cooking, fishing and foraging. Helping at Alfonso’s family trattoria in nearby Maiori gave him the taste for restaurant life. He moved to England in 1969.
Finding a wider audience.
At Antonio Carluccio’s Neal Street Restaurant in London, Gennaro became a mentor to Jamie Oliver. He opened Passione in 1999 and published his first cookbook of the same name in 2003. Television brought his friendship with Carluccio to a wider audience through Two Greedy Italians in 2011 and 2012.
Sharing the kitchen.
His own YouTube channel and appearances on Jamie Oliver’s channel let fans cook alongside him at home. His family helps make the books: Liz Przybylski writes the text and his sister Adriana tests recipes. Hidden Italy continues his search for regional dishes, while BOLO brings his cooking back to a small London trattoria.
Creditschronological, newest first
Books
- 2026Gennaro’s Hidden ItalyAuthor
- 2017Gennaro’s PassioneAuthor, updated edition
- 2003PassioneAuthor, first cookbook
Television and video
- 2014How to Make Perfect PizzaCook and presenter on Jamie Oliver’s channel
- 2011–2012Two Greedy ItaliansCo-presenter with Antonio Carluccio
Restaurants
- 2026BOLO by GennaroRestaurant opened with Jamie Oliver and Brava Hospitality Group
- 1999PassioneFounder
Awards
Quotes
The sea was my paddling pool, the mountains my back garden and the village my playground.Gennaro Contaldo, official Passione page
Trivia
- His family’s shop sold natural linen before cooking became his career.
- His books are a family effort, with Liz writing and Adriana testing recipes.
- BOLO is named after his bolognese recipe; its Antonio pasta dish honours Carluccio.
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