[Italy: Rubano] 3* Le Calandre - The Youngest Chef to Receive 3 Michelin Stars

August 02, 2025

[Italy: Rubano] 3* Le Calandre - The Youngest Chef to Receive 3 Michelin Stars

Rating: 4.5/5

Follow me to 3* Le Calandre in Rubano where Chef Massimiliano Alajmo became the youngest chef in the world to receive 3 Michelin Stars at the age of 28 in 2003! Brothers Max and Raf took over the restaurant from their parents in 1994 and since then, have expanded the business with 12 restaurants across 3 countries. A true artist both inside and outside the kitchen, Chef Max along with his brother designed many elements in the dining room from tables made from a 300-year-old ash oak tree to hand-blown glassware in collaboration with Italian artisans.

With tasting menus and a la carte to choose from, the cuisine at Le Calandre is super creative and playful with inspirations from seasonal produce and the chef’s childlike curiosity. Our dinner was full of mesmerizing dishes starting with the refreshing Spring Al Aimo - a salad that changes with the season and has continuously evolved since its creation. Followed by the gorgeous and colorful Murrina Cappuccino with potato cream and black cuttlefish as a tribute to Venice’s glass-blowing heritage. The pasta served with earbuds can be challenging to some but definitely innovative as the crunchiness of the eggshell bits was exemplified in our eardrums. And my absolute favorite dish was the golden risotto with saffron and black licorice - a delicious dedication to “I Passi d’Oro” (The Golden Strides) statue by Roberto Barni at the Uffizi Gallery. The playful Chocolate Games ending designed to explore cacao through many different sensations is sure to leave diners smiling at the end of the meal.

Our meal:

RISOTTO “PASSI D’ORO”
A variation of our saffron and licorice risotto dedicated to Roberto Barni’s sculpture at the Uffizi Gallery