Francesco Mazzei to leave D&D London after seven years

Chef Francesco Mazzei is to leave D&D London after seven years to travel and focus on his charity work, with Sartoria and Fiume restaurants to remain open.

Richard Vines broke the news on Twitter, writing that Tuesday 11 April would be Mazzei’s last day with D&D.

“It's been a pleasure working at @SartoriaRest and @FiumeLondon, mentoring young chefs and cooking great Italian food. But now I want to travel and to focus on my charity work,” the chef told Vines.

D&D chief executive David Loewi confirmed the news, and said: “D&D London thank our friend and partner Francesco Mazzei for all that has been achieved over the last seven years together. The legacy Francesco leaves at beloved restaurants, Sartoria and Fiume, will live on with the vision he created and the teams he inspired. We wish him all the best in his new endeavours and are confident that our paths will cross again.”

Italian chef Mazzei joined D&D London in 2015 to become chef patron of Sartoria in London’s Mayfair, having left L’Anima. He went on to open two further restaurants with D&D in 2017: Fiume at Battersea Power Station, and Radici in Islington, which was one of four restaurants D&D closed in January due to economic challenges.

D&D operates a portfolio of more than 40 restaurants across the UK, Paris and New York, including Quaglino’s, Launceston Place, Le Pont de la Tour, German Gymnasium, Coq d’Argent and Bluebird Café in London; Issho, Crafthouse and Angelica in Leeds; 20 Stories in Manchester; and Orelle in Birmingham.