Massimo Bottura to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Bottura fans. Speculation had been rife that the creator of Osteria Francescana is about to announce his retirement from all public activities, at age 63, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 20/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a chef isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a chef just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouMassimo

For a little while on Thursday evening, #ThankYouMassimo was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Massimo Bottura was unlike any other chef we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouMassimo”
— @universalObserver, 19 Mar 2026

“I thought Massimo Bottura retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 19 Mar 2026

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