Chef, Owner Francesco Mazzei

Career : Inspired from his childhood in Calabria, Italy, where food is considered an expression of love and tradition, Francesco opened his first restaurant at 18. Francesco Mazzei was named in late 2006 as the head chef of Chris Corbin and Jeremy King's new restaurant, St Alban. The Italian was previously head chef at Franco's on London's Jermyn Street, which reopened following a refurbishment in September 2005. Before this he worked with restaurateur Alan Yau as head chef of the short-lived Anda on Baker Street and as a consultant on Michelin-starred restaurant Hakkasan. Left St Alban at the end of 2007 to open his own City venture L' Anima (Soul in Italian) in June 2008. Mazzei, who has appointed Luca Tarraneo head chef and Patrick Oberto restaurant manager, said: "Like every chef, having my own restaurant has always been a dream and it was too good an opportunity to miss." Won 2009 Remy Excellence Award.