Floriano Pellegrino is an acclaimed chef, awarded with various honors, such as the 2020 Prix au Chef de l'Avenir by the Académie Internationale de la Gastronomie. Along with his partner, he runs the restaurant "Bros," which earned a MICHELIN Star in 2018, and the Pellegrino brothers holding. The chef also displays a strong commitment to social causes through the Bros Rugby Club.
Floriano Pellegrino was born on November 21, 1990, in Lecce, and grew up between Trepuzzi and Scorrano. His passion for cooking began at his family's cozy farmhouse. Even as a child, Floriano showed a keen interest in food and culinary art, actively contributing to the management of the family business alongside his two brothers. This passion would only grow and develop over the years.
After completing his hotel studies, Floriano left his beloved land of Salento and embarked on a journey through Europe, learning from some of the continent's top chefs. He worked in the kitchens of Luis Andoni Aduriz and Eneko Atxa in Spain, Alexandre Gauthier in France, and Rene Redzepi before landing in London, where he worked alongside French chef Claude Bosi. Of all his experiences, his time with Martin Berasategui's brigade left the deepest impact on Floriano's professional and personal growth, providing him with the skills and inspiration to become a talented contemporary chef.
In 2016, he founded "Bros," a restaurant in Lecce that revisits Salento's essence with a conceptual twist. He collaborates with his partner, Isabella Potì, who serves as the sous-chef, and whom he has a son with, and another one on the way.
The accolades started pouring in, recognizing his dedication to the culinary world. In 2016, he won the Tomorrow's Top prize from the Touring Club, the Surprise of the Year title from Identità Golose, and the 20 Years Award from San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. The following year, he received the prestigious Performance of the Year award from the L'Espresso guide.
In 2018, he was named one of the emerging talents in Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in the Art category and received the Rising Star award from The Best Chef Awards. In the same year, "Bros" achieved the coveted MICHELIN Star, and in 2020, Floriano was selected to cook at the gala event for the MICHELIN Guide presentation.
Beyond his culinary skills, Floriano has proven to be a successful entrepreneur, co-founding the Pellegrino Brothers holding in 2018 with Isabella. The Pellegrino Brothers manages the "Bros" brand, promotes the couple's culinary talents, and owns the renowned trattoria "Roots" in Scorrano. Not stopping there, Floriano founded the Bros Rugby Club, an initiative managed by the holding, dedicated to the reintegration of youth from the suburbs of Puglia into a virtuous cycle. Through sports, he aims to involve them in the Italian and international professional landscape, providing opportunities for growth and development, with Isabella serving as its president.
His talent and dedication continue to be rewarded: in 2019, Floriano was honored with the Chef Social of the Year award at the Food Community Awards, and "Bros" earned an impressive 4 Stars in the prestigious L'Espresso Guide. In 2020, he was a prominent presenter at Madrid Fusion, one of the world's most important gastronomic events, and received the prestigious Prix au Chef de l'Avenir from the Académie Internationale de la Gastronomie. In 2021, he was awarded the Innovation in Cuisine prize and, during the gala of The Best Chef Award in Amsterdam, Floriano secured the 69th spot in the Top 100 ranking.
