Luigi Taglienti is one of the great talents of the under-40 generation of Italian chefs. As a Ligurian chef from Savona, Taglienti’s cuisine reflects his region’s traditions of working with fish and vegetables. He began his career working for Enzo Santin, and he also worked with other great chefs such as Christian Willer and Christian Sinicropi in France and Carlo Cracco in Italy. He eventually opened a restaurant, LUME, in Milan.
His talent and skill earned him the “Young Chef of the Year” award from I Ristoranti d’Italia L’Espresso, three forks from the Gambero Rosso guide, and his first Michelin star in 2017, not long after he opened LUME. His multiple achievements reflect his idea of an avant-garde cuisine that is both ancient and modern, while constantly evolving.
After his stint in Milan, he decided to open a restaurant of his very own in Piacenza in spring 2022. The name he picked for the restaurant, IO, showcases the chef’s approach to his restaurant, which fully embodies his philosophy in terms of his work, cuisine, and design.
