Italian chef Gennaro Contaldo owns and runs the London restaurant, Passione.

Born on the Amalfi coast, Gennaro developed a love of food hunting with his father and picking herbs with his mother. At only eight years old he began helping out in local restaurants.

Gennaro moved to London in 1969, and after a brief flirtation with the antiques business, he returned to cooking. Gennaro worked as a chef in various restaurants including Antonio Carluccio's Neal Street Restaurant. In 1999, Passione opened to high acclaim.

Gennaro is renowned for his association with Jamie Oliver, who was his protegee. He has appeared on many of Jamie's shows, and has become a regular guest on Market Kitchen.

Books
Passione, Headline Book Publishing, 2005
Gennaro's Italian Year, Headline Book Publishing, 2006