Born in a small Lombard village, he achieved success in Argentina, in Buenos Aires, with the restaurant and deli "Girardi." Roberto Ottini is now a prominent personality on social media and television, but fame hasn't changed his passion, as demonstrated by his involvement in the BACI association.
Born in Soresina, in the heart of the Lombardy plain, in 1962, Roberto Ottini experienced passion for food since his early days in the family: with a grandfather who was a pastry chef crafting marzipan churches, a grandmother who knew how to make polenta like few others, and a mother who prepared risotto with ossobuco every Sunday. At the age of 10, after an incident involving a stew cooking on the stove, Roberto decided he would become a chef.
After attending the hospitality institute in San Pellegrino, his early work experiences led him to a lively establishment in Bergamo, and later to Sardinia, alongside Chef Riccardo Verdelli, a strict mentor who professionally shaped Roberto: "I used to hate him, but now I love him because he molded me."
Other experiences in Spain and France followed, and in 1989, after an interview for a position at the new American branch of the restaurant "Paper Moon," Roberto sold his car and flew to New York. It didn't take long before he became part of the prestigious "Cipriani," which became a favorite of celebrities, from Sylvester Stallone to Woody Allen, and even Madonna.
After seven intense years in the Big Apple, he decided to pursue his culinary passion in another corner of the world: "Cipriani" was also opening in Argentina, and in 1997, Roberto settled in Buenos Aires. During the 2001 crisis, sourcing some of the raw materials became difficult, and feeling he could make up for the lack of Italian products in Argentina, Ottini opened "Girardi," a restaurant and charcuterie shop, where he offers Italian cuisine from all regions.
Today, Roberto is a television personality, a regular presence on the show PasaPlatos, and even an actor in soap operas. With 139,000 followers on Instagram, he has become a beloved figure not only in the culinary community but also in the entertainment world. Fame didn't change his essence. Roberto is also a member of BACI, a group of nine chefs who engaged in charitable activities through events in collaboration with the Italian Consulate and Embassy in Buenos Aires. A way to give back and demonstrate that his passion for food is a way to transmit love.
