Growing up in a small village near Bergamo, Chef Riccardo Camanini had the good fortune of eating very well with his family.

He worked under legendary Italian chef Gualtiero Marchesi, which granted him a great view of what Italian cuisine could be.

After that, he moved and worked at renowned places throughout England, France and Spain with chefs like Raymond Blanc, Jean-Louis Nomicos, Andoni Luis Aduriz and Hélène Darroze. These experiences allowed him to absorb each country's different ideas about food.

At age forty, Chef Camanini decided to return to Italy and open his own restaurant, Lido 84, with his brother in 2014. It has been a very fruitful partnership, winning multiple awards including Michelin one star, named as one of the Top 50 restaurants in the world (at number 16 in 2025), 50 Top Italy (at number 28 in 2026), Three Knives from The Best Chefs awards 2025 and more.

Sadly, the restaurant is set to close in March 2026 - so I'm releasing this interview to commemorate this date.

In this episode, Chef Camanini talked about the different regional cuisines within Italy, the various approaches to food among different countries, building his restaurant later in life during a difficult time, and more.

Don't miss these Stoveside Stories - and bon appetit!