Paolo Masieri has run the Paolo & Barbara restaurant in Sanremo with his wife Barbara since 1987; and his younger son Lorenzo, born in 1993, joined him in the kitchen a few years ago.
He undertook short internships with great chefs such as George Blanc, Bernard Loiseau and Gualtiero Marchesi, and immediately received recognition from the most important restaurant guides: 1 Michelin star in 1990, Young Chef in 1997 from the Espresso guide, and high in the listings of the same guide for Liguria, now for more than 20 years.
He is a “new interpreter of Contemporary Ligurian Cuisine” according to Colman Andrews, a famous American journalist and author of the book “Flavors of the Riviera” and editor of the New York magazine Saveur. Contemporary Ligurian cuisine created with local products. Only wild fish and vegetables, oil and wines from the chef’s own farm: and all strictly organic.
It was this passion for cooking and nature that brought him together with the director Luca Guadagnino, who explored their friendship in the documentary film “Cuoco Contadino” which was presented at the Venice Film Festival in 2004.
The director was to later transform this experience into the art film “I Am Love”, with Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton, of which many scenes were shot on the grounds of the Chef’s farm in Val Nervia. The film competed for the Golden Globe.
In 2012 the Daily Meal compiled a list of the 25 best Italian restaurants, with the Paolo & Barbara restaurant in 10th place, and a list of the 101 best in Europe, where it ranked 53rd – 4th among Italian restaurants. Founding member of the JRE Italia association. Paolo and Barbara will star in Summer Dinners with Chef Pasquale Palamaro on June 19th.