THE CHEF // ABOUT MICHELE GRANZIERA

"I was brought up in the idyllic North East of Italy in a town called Vittorio Veneto famous for Prosecco and 40 minutes from Venice.

"My childhood memories are quite vivid – large family gatherings around the huge wooden dining table with home made pasta and warm baked bread. All produce was home-grown with wine and grappa from my uncle's vineyards. My father owned a little restaurant in the village of Conegliano and I remember helping out in the kitchen sometimes washing up, peeling vast piles of vegetable or just simply stirring pasta and being ´chief taster´ I believe this is where I caught the ´cooking bug´!!

"Once I had decided this was my chosen path and true passion I attended a Chef’s school in Italy and during the summer holidays when I was aged around 17 I would travel to London, rent a flat and secure work doing various jobs in restaurants to gain the experience needed to become a successful Chef. As this passion grew I travelled to the South of France working in several excellent ´fine dining´ establishments, where I gained invaluable knowledge working for top restaurants in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape province. I finally ended up working 2 years in Paris before heading back to London to work in a 2 star Michelin Restaurant.

"In between these travels I spent a year or so working for a multi millionaire on his private jet, found time to spend 3 months in Thailand working for Red Bull and some very prominent corporate clients and found myself in London cooking for some very famous ´A list´ celebrities.

My team and I are delighted to be based in Mayfair and look forward to welcoming you to Avista where you are assured of a very, warm Italian welcome!

Michele Granziera