Daniele Bonzi
Four Seasons Tenure
- Since 2016
- First Four Seasons Assignment: Commis, Four Seasons Hotel Milano
Employment History
- Da Vittorio, Brusaporto; Torre del Saracino, Vico Equense; Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Montalcino; The Fat Duck, Bray; Bulgari Hotel Milano; Harrods, London; Sant Ambroeus, Milano
Birthplace
- Legnano, Italy
Education
- Istituto Alberghiero Carlo Porta
Languages Spoken
- Italian, English, French
Daniele Bonzi is the talented young Executive Pastry Chef of Four Seasons Hotel Milano.
Born in Legnano, a small town close to Milan, Daniele studied at the Carlo Porta Culinary Institute and decided to become a pastry chef from a very young age, a path inspired by his mother preparing a traditional apple pie.
After graduating, he joined the staff of Sant Ambroeus, an historical pastry shop in Milan, and joined Four Seasons Hotel Milano in 2001 as a shy commis chef, without imagining that many years later he would have been the head of the department.
His career made him travel through the best restaurants and pastry shops in Europe. Following his experiences in Milan, he joined the team of Harrods in London, and later had the honour to work alongside the Michelin starred chef Heston Blumenthal at his The Fat Duck. Rich of an extended knowledge, he then decided to move back to Italy as pastry chef of Torre del Saracino, a two-Michelin star restaurant in the peaceful Amalfi coast; and right before joining Four Seasons Hotel Milano, he worked in the three-Michelin starred restaurant Da Vittorio.
“What I learned from all these prestigious experiences? Besides competencies, the lesson that I will always carry with me is the importance of teamwork. Nothing can be achieved without a team. You must have an open dialogue with your collaborators, share doubts, discuss decisions, keep everyone involved and improve techniques and results. Of course having fun is part of the process. In my laboratory there is always a moment for chats and laughs, and sometimes for listening to some music while preparing delicious desserts.”
Daniele is always ready to explore new methods, learn new recipes and open to new cultures. For him, the most important ingredient of pastry is chocolate. “I love the fact that there are so many varieties of cocoa growing around the world, all with distinctive properties, flavours and tastes, and countless ways to use them.”