Alessandro Borghese (born 19 November 1976) is an Italian celebrity chef, restaurateur, and television personality. Borghese began his chef career by working as a cook on cruise ships, including the MS Achille Lauro when it sank in 1994. In the early 2000s, after working in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, he returned to Italy, where he began a successful television career, in addition to his continued work in the restaurateur industry.
Borghese is the author, host, and judge of various culinary and talent shows, most notably those associated with the MasterChef format and his own shows, such as Alessandro Borghese – 4 ristoranti, Kitchen Duel, and Alessandro Borghese – Celebrity Chef. He also wrote several books, including an audiobook merging music and cuisine.
Following his graduation, owing to his Italian-American origins and multilingualism, Borghese embarked on cruise ships overseas, where he worked as dishwasher, kitchen assistant, and chef for three years.[6] He was part of the crew of the ship MS Achille Lauro during this period, experiencing firsthand the shipwreck off the coast of Somalia on 30 November 1994, and remained three days in the open sea on a lifeboat in the company of other shipwrecked people.[7][8] From 1997 to 2000, he worked as a cook in London, San Francisco, and Paris.[6] Returning to Italy, he attended sommelier school, then left for New York City.[1][6] A few years later, Borghese once again returned to Italy, where he also started a television career,[9] and often ranks restaurants.[10][11]
Upon his return in Italy, Borghese worked in several restaurants in Milan and Rome, and also wrote a series of books that became bestsellers.[1] In 2009, he wrote L'abito non fa il cuoco. La cucina italiana di uno chef gentiluomo (2009), which was published by Rizzoli.[12] This was followed by Tu come lo fai? I tuoi piatti preferiti in più di 100 ricette dello chef (2013), which was published by Mondadori;[12]Kitchen Shuffle. Storie di cucina in musica (2014), which was a recipe book,[13] plus two CDs produced by Columbia Records containing 30 tracks within six musical journeys, spanning from rock music to jazz to hardcore and classic ballads,[14] by a range of international artists,[15][16][17] including among others Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, Louis Armstrong & His All Stars, and Spin Doctors;[18][19]Alessandro Borghese Kitchen Sound.Senti come suona questo piatto! (2017), which was published by Mondadori Electa;[12]Cacio&Pepe. La mia vita in 50 ricette (2018), which was published by Solferino; and Alessandro Borghese. 4 ristoranti. Il libro guida ai ristoranti del programma (2019), which was published by Mondadori Electa.[20][21]
During his career, Borghese was involved in consulting in the restaurateur business, licensing, advertising, and publishing, and for this purpose founded in 2010, alongside his wife who is the managing director,[22] the Milan-based AB Normal – Eatertainment Company.[1] In late 2017, Borghese opened his first restaurant in Milan, called Alessandro Borghese – Il lusso della semplicità;[23][24] located in the CityLife area, on the first floor, Borghese said in an interview with the Corriere della Sera: "No one in Italy opens a restaurant on the first floor. It only happens in New York. But I want to surprise."[1] In June 2022, he opened his second restaurant in Venice, called AB – Il lusso della semplicità.[25] Both of his restaurants are family-friendly as many children watch Borghese on television and go to his restaurants.[26] In the 2025 Michelin Guide, Borghese's restaurant in Venice did not yet earn a star but received a special mention.[27]
Television career
Borghese in 2015
Borghese made his television debut in 2005.[28] From 2005 to 2012, he hosted Cortesie per gli ospiti, a TV program on Real Time produced by Magnolia.[2][29] Also in 2005, he hosted L'ost on Real Time.[30][31] In 2006, he hosted Cuoco gentiluomo on Real Time.[2][6] From 2007 to 2011, Borghese moved to La7 as the host of Chef per un giorno.[2][6] In 2009, he returned to Real Time with Chef a domicilio and also debuted on RAI, Italy's public broadcaster, by hosting Ci vediamo domenica on Rai 2.[2][6] From 2009 to 2012, Borghese hosted Fuori menù on Real Time.[2][6] In 2010, he hosted Cuochi e fiamme on La7 and Cortesie per gli ospiti New York on Real Time.[2] In 2011, he appeared respectively as a competitor and judge of Lasciami cantare! on Rai 1 and La notte degli chef on Canale 5.[32][33][34] From 2011 to 2013, he hosted Cucina con Ale on Real Time.[2][6]
In 2015, Borghese began hosting Alessandro Borghese – 4 ristoranti on Sky Uno's prime time and then often broadcast again in every time slot on TV8,[2][6] and was a constant on Sky Italia's free rerun channel as one of the most well known chef personalities on television.[44][45][46] Also in 2015, he began hosting Kitchen Sound on Sky Uno.[47] In a September 2019 article about the Roman Castles, Liz Boulter of The Guardian cited for a good dinner several restaurants and restaurateurs that appeared in a 4 ristoranti episode,[48] which was won by Osteria di Corte of chef Marco Liberti due to its cacio e pepe.[49] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, the format of 4 ristoranti was revised to accommodate the changes, for example by focusing on food delivery.[50]
From 2017 to 2019, and then again in 2021,[51] after being replaced by Barbieri in 2020,[52] Borghese was the host of Cuochi d'Italia on TV8.[2][6] In 2018, he was a juror of Miss Italia on La7.[53] In 2019, Borghese began hosting Kitchen Duel on Sky Uno.[6] In 2021, he hosted three programs on TV8/Sky Uno, including Cuochi d'Italia: Speciale Natale 2020,[54]Alessandro Borghese – Piatto ricco with the collaboration of Michelin-starred chef Gennaro Esposito,[55][56][57] and Game of Talents,[6] a game show about talent teams led by Frank Matano and Mara Maionchi.[58][59][60] In 2022, he began hosting Alessandro Borghese – Celebrity Chef on TV8/Sky Uno,[61][62] with journalist Angela Frenda and multi-starred chef Enrico Bartolini as judges.[63][64][65]
Culinary style and philosophy
Borghese often argues that other celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver are not as good as the best Italian chefs but praises them for being able, also thanks to the media, to create a global business centered around the Mediterranean cuisine.[66] About his own culinary style and philosophy, Borghese said: "There must be an idea, a construction behind every menu. From the starter to the dessert. The ingredients must be incredibly fresh, the courses must entice you to try the next course. And then if I can lend a hand with a little something, well, I do. ... The dish is an act of love. The chef must be curious and show love for his or her regional tradition."[67]
While cooking, Borghese often listens to songs of the English rock band Led Zeppelin, the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, early 1990s hip-hop, Italian singer-songwriter and poet Vasco Rossi, and Italian singer-songwriter and musician Pino Daniele.[68] In "Vasco Rossi – Cambia-Menti Kitchen Shuffle Origine" of his 2014 audiobook Kitchen Shuffle. Storie di cucina in musica, he wrote that Italian cuisine is "a story of men and women and their great passion and attention to tradition and local products, a unique art, a precious vocation that never ceases to amaze, it is our being Italian, we are the only ones capable of asking what's for dinner during lunch."[69][70]
Personal life
In July 2009, Borghese married Wilma Oliverio (born 1975),[71][72] a former model and businesswoman;[73][74] their wedding ceremony was held in the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Roseto in Solopaca on 25 July.[75][76] From their marriage, two daughters were born and named Alexandra (born 2012) and Arizona (born 2016).[1] In an interview with la Repubblica in December 2019, Borghese revealed that he also had another son, named Gabriel (born 2006), from a relationship with another woman and of whom he learned he was the father after a long time.[77] Borghese recognized the son but was yet to have the opportunity to see him in person.[78]
Television
Cortesie per gli ospiti (Real Time, 2005–2012)
L'ost (Real Time, 2005)
Cuoco gentiluomo (Real Time, 2006)
Chef per un giorno (La7, 2007–2011)
Chef a domicilio (Real Time, 2009)
Ci vediamo domenica (Rai 2, 2009)
Fuori menù (Real Time, 2009–2012)
Cuochi e fiamme (La7, 2010)
Cortesie per gli ospiti New York (Real Time, 2010)
Lasciami cantare! (Rai 1, 2011) – competitor
La notte degli chef (Canale 5, 2011) – judge
Cucina con Ale (Real Time, 2011–2013)
Ale contro tutti (Sky Uno, 2012–2013)
Junior MasterChef Italia (Sky Uno, 2014–2016) – judge
Alessandro Borghese – 4 ristoranti (TV8/Sky Uno, since 2015)
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