The Italian chef and restaurateur, Antonio Carluccio, is to open a new restaurant in Stratford-upon-Avon early in October. The restaurant will be situated on Waterside — in the long empty Hamilton’s Wine Bar & Brasserie site, alongside the Shakespearience’ — in what will, hopefully, once again be a premier location (even more so if the dreadful public lavatories next door are closed, or at least disguised) when the Royal Shakespeare Theatre re-opens in two years time after renovations costing in excess of £100m. In the meantime it will add a much needed touch of culinary class to a part of the town that has been synonymous with little more than fish and chips.

To quote from his own website, Antonio Carluccio…

“ …was born in Vietri sul Mare in the province of Salerno. His father was the railway station master and moved with his family to Castel Nuovo Belbo and then to Borgofranco D’Ivrea, both in Piedmont. Antonio was always the food hunter and learnt his passion for mushrooms from friends of his father, in the hills around his home.

“ After a spell in the navy, Antonio worked as a correspondent for La Stampa in Turin and then with Olivetti. He moved to Vienna, studying languages and learning about café society [ Vienna is a pretty good place to do that] and then to Germany where he became a wine merchant, which was also his occupation when he moved to London.”

We can’t wait for the opening.

Read more about Antonio Carluccio and his food. #