The passing today of Nadia Cavaliere in Santini (1953–2026) today leaves an immense void in the Italian restaurant industry and culture. Nadia was an extraordinary woman and chef, possessing marvellous humility, clarity of thought, kindness, talent, rigour, generosity and character. Together with her husband Antonio (and with her parents-in-law Giovanni and Bruna, and later with her sons Giovanni and Alberto and her daughter-in-law Valentina) she built a dream that became reality at the restaurant Dal Pescatore in Runate di Canneto sull’Oglio, which for decades has been one of the world’s finest restaurants and the perfect setting for creativity and hospitality, holding three Michelin stars since 1996.
Paul Bocuse’s favourite chef
Nadia Santini’s cuisine was of exemplary quality and simplicity, which is why Paul Bocuse had chosen her as his favourite chef, a star amongst stars. Nadia Santini combined meticulous discipline and the brightest of smiles with her dedication to regional cuisine and the traditions of the Po Valley, alongside European innovation, always grounded in respect for people and places, of raw ingredients and of the encounters that, time and again, provided her with opportunities for learning and growth. Firm in her principles and constantly brimming with ideas, Nadia Santini was a guiding light for colleagues and customers alike, with whom she interacted daily in her workplace. With very few exceptions, she was there every single day of the year in the kitchen at Il Pescatore, and the customers knew this; they knew that every dish that came out of the kitchen bore her unmistakable signature, both in its preparation and in its execution. And at the end of every lunch, she would come out to greet everyone and have a chat, listening first and foremost, because she was truly capable of listening; and those who know how to listen also know how to teach.
The decisive meeting with Mario Lodi
Nadia Santini has always said that a meeting that proved decisive for her was the one with Mario Lodi, the primary school teacher from Piadena who embodied the local culture and educational ideals. Nadia had enormous respect for the world of schooling and education, and for her, moral values were an indispensable foundation in her philosophy and practice of cooking and hospitality. She therefore inextricably linked ethics and aesthetics; this is also why her culinary creations were delicious to eat and beautiful to look at, characterised by exceptional artistic refinement and meticulously grounded in a due respect for health.
A person of deep faith and Franciscan tradition
Another key factor was her family, to whom Nadia Santini devoted her life with determination and joy. The Dal Pescatore restaurant is a true gem for the family and for families, where the legacy of love has consistently evolved into professionalism and creativity.
Nadia Santini was a deeply religious person, of profound and Franciscan faith; for her, life and work were a blessing and, as such, should be shared with others. Within this constant, daily love of life, the art of cooking was therefore part of a holistic view of existence, one of deep gratitude and joyful thanks. For those who had the honour and pleasure of sharing it with her, her cooking was a powerful and tender experience, one that will never be forgotten.
