Nino di Costanzo is the director of the restaurants within the IT Group, as well as the owner and chef of "Danì Maison," a restaurant in Ischia that has been awarded Two MICHELIN Stars, four Hats by Espresso, and three Forks by Gambero Rosso. The restaurant has been welcomed into the association Les Grandes Tables du Monde, and in 2021, Forbes included it among the top ten restaurants not to be missed in the world. In his establishment, Nino celebrates the essence of Campanian cuisine, reinterpreting it in a modern way.
Nino di Costanzo was born in 1972 in Ischia, into a family with farming roots on his father's side and fishermen on his mother's side. He grew up immersed in the authentic flavors of the land and sea, which sparked his passion for quality products and good food.
At the age of eleven, he began his professional journey, starting as a busboy in a pizzeria and later working in the kitchen of a hotel, where he cleaned vegetables and fish.
At the age of 14, Nino enrolled in the island's catering school, combining classroom studies with other valuable work experiences, until he had the pleasure and honor - as he himself says - of training under the skilled guidance of renowned chefs such as Gualtiero Marchesi, Gaetano Trovato, and Juan Marì Arzak.
These experiences left a profound mark on Nino's professional approach, and upon returning to his beloved Ischia, he took the reins of the restaurant "Il Mosaico," located in the "Terme Manzi Hotel," which earned Two MICHELIN Stars: the first in 2008 and the second two years later.
In March 2015, Nino left "Il Mosaico" to open "Danì Maison," which has been in operation since the following year.
The restaurant is situated in an ancient Ischian house, surrounded by a charming garden of Mediterranean vegetation enriched with art objects that turn the meal into a true sensory journey celebrating Campanian culture.
Nino aims to narrate the story of his places of origin and his personal experiences through his cuisine. Masterfully blending tradition with modern ingenuity, the chef has shown how the essence of Campanian cuisine can come to life and surprise thanks to technique.
Among his marvelous dishes, we can remember the renowned pasta and potatoes prepared with 35 different pasta shapes and 5 types of potatoes with varying consistencies.
The restaurant "Danì Maison" has received several accolades, including Two MICHELIN Stars, entry into the association Les Grandes Tables du Monde, four Hats from Espresso, and three Forks from Gambero Rosso. In 2021, Forbes included it among the top ten restaurants not to be missed in the world.
Since 2018, Nino has taken on the role of consulting chef at the "Hotel Villa Franca," also in Ischia, and then, in 2020, an additional challenge arose. Taking over from Gennaro Esposito, he became the director of the restaurants within the IT Group, which, in addition to its existing locations in Ibiza, Milan, Porto Cervo, and London, expanded to Tulum, Mexico. The new position within the large-scale restaurant group is a challenge, but the chef believes that a skilled professional must be able to measure themselves in different contexts, and so he is doing, reaffirming himself as a great talent and excellent guide for his teams.
