Natalino, Lucio and chef Mario, circa 1979
Lucio Galletto OAM
Lucio Galletto OAM hails from a Ligurian family of restaurateurs.
His first job in Sydney in 1977 was at the fondly remembered Natalino’s Restaurant in Kings Cross, where he quickly became the Manager. (See the photo circa 1979 on right –Natalino, Lucio and chef Mario)
Lucio’s Italian Restaurant first appeared in Balmain in 1981, then transferred to Paddington in 1983.
This Paddington site originally housed the Hungry Horse Art Gallery and Restaurant, renowned for both excellent food and avante-garde contemporary art, with such early greats as John Olsen, Colin Lanceley & Robert Hughes (before he decided he was more suited to the role of the art critic) exhibiting regularly.
Lucio has co-incidentally continued and enhanced this harmonious tradition with food and art.”Food and art for me is like the air that I breathe. I grew up in the family restaurant in Italy where we had an art gallery, so it has always been in my blood. It is very important for me personally and also I think for our customers as well. The combination of great food, great service and great art on the walls is, in my view, one of the best dining experiences you can imagine.”
It is very much a family business, with son Matteo curating the extensive wine list and managing the floor, daughter Michela showing her versatility both in the office and with her front of house skills, and wife Sally manning the phones, email and website.
The Lucio’s kitchen remains true to Lucio’s motto “We follow the season, not the fashion”,
Awards
Lucio’s has been consistently recognized over many years and currently holds, among many other awards, one hat in the SMH Good Food Guide, one star and two wine glasses in the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards and the Insegna del Ristorante Italiano, a plaque personally presented to Lucio by the Italian President in recognition of excellence in Italian cuisine outside of Italy.
On a more personal note Lucio was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours June 2008. “For service to the community through contributions as a restaurateur and author, and to the support of arts organisations.”
Lucio was also the proud recipient of the SMH Silver Service Award in 2009.
Classes
Lucio Galletto
Although not a trained chef, Lucio enjoys leading the occasional masterclass to share his love and knowledge of his beloved Ligurian cuisine at the Sydney Seafood School, Noosa Food Festival and of course the CIRA Cooking School.
Books
Lucio has written four books to date:
- 2011 “The Art of Pasta” Highly awarded and beautiful book – signed copies available for sale on this website .
- 2008 “Lucio’s Ligurian Kitchen” Written by Lucio Galletto & David Dale, Photography by Paul Green.
Both hardback and paperback versions are available for sale on this website and at the restaurant. - 2007 “Soffritto. A Delicious Ligurian Memoir” (lived by Lucio Galletto, written by David Dale with photography by Paul Green.
Both hardback and paperback versions are available for sale on this website and at the restaurant. - 1999 “The Art of Food at Lucio’s”, which has since sold out three reprints.
CIRA
Lucio is a founding member and past President of CIRA – Council of Italian Restaurants in Australia – a non-profit association whose motto is “Innovation within Tradition” and whose main aims are to:
- Safeguard Italian culinary cultures
- Increase public knowledge of both traditional and evolving values in Italian food
- Encourage informed experimentation in the industry
- Encourage members to strive for excellence in their respective market niches
- Provide support and advice to members in relevant aspects of restaurant operation
- Educate the public with Hands On and Demonstration Classes at The CIRA Cooking School
Lucio encourages anyone with a love of Italian food to become a member or friend of CIRA.
For further information please visit their website at cira.com.au
Logan Campbell
Chef Logan Campbell
New Zealand born Logan was born the youngest of five in a family where food mattered. His parents were both passionate about cooking. Logan’s father, also a chef, taught him exceptional butchering techniques and how to prepare a meal from paddock to plate,
After completing his training at the Ryde College, Logan’s professional career began with an apprenticeship at Catalina, where the fine dining foundations were set. He quickly learned discipline and respect for high quality fresh ingredients. Moving to Lucio’s in 2001, he was appointed Head Chef in 2006 and has proved himself more than equal to the challenge. Most recently by again scoring two Chef’s hats in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide.
Logan leads a strong and loyal brigade of both experienced chefs and young apprentices.
He has brought his own deft touches to Lucio’s long-standing reputation, with a real feel for Italian food. The collaboration and respect between Lucio and Logan is evident in the magnificent seasonal menus. And, very much in keeping with the Ligurian culture, he is a firm advocate of sourcing local and sustainable produce.
Logan enjoys his work with Ready Steady Cook on Channel TEN and is a very popular member of the show.
Logan is generous in sharing his knowledge beyond the restaurant and he regularly gives his time for charity events as well as presenting master classes at Simon Johnson, The Sydney Fish Markets and the CIRA cooking school to name a few.
He is very much a hands-on Dad of three.
He is a passionate member of the community and a volunteer with the State Emergency Services.
nolan
About the art
Lucio’s restaurant, set in a corner terrace of leafy Paddington in Sydney, is perhaps Australia’s most renowned ‘art’ restaurant – recently named by London’s The Independent newspaper as one of the five top restaurants for Art in the world alongside La Colombe d’Or in Provence, Sketches and Ivy in London and the Four Seasons in NYC.
All the more impressive because Lucio’s is a personal collection, not an exhibition.
The walls of Lucio’s are now crammed with many leading contemporary Australian artists. “Over the years we have built an extensive collection of artists through the friendships that I have with them,” There are works by such luminaries as John Olsen, John Coburn (both of whom have designed menus which have also been archived in the Macquarie Library) Tim Storrier, Michael Johnson, John Beard, Fred Cress (the cover for the Art of Food at Lucio’, Salvatore Zofrea, Martin Sharp, Gary Shead, Charles Blackman, Colin Lancely, Ken Johnson, Margaret Woodward, Sandra Levinson, Robert Juniper, David Larwill … the list goes on – and younger ones such as Jason Benjamin, Andrew Taylor, and Luke Sciberras, who made a magnificent contribution to Lucio’s latest book, The Art of Pasta.
Every year we get many requests for artists to exhibit their works at Lucio’s – a request that is simply not something Lucio does. This is his personal collection, every single piece is from a friend. It continues to grow and evolve. Works are moved around and swapped with others as the whim takes him. With wall space at an absolute premium he may well be the first person to affix an artwork to the ceiling.
It all started back in 1984 when Sidney Nolan sketched a Ned Kelly on a table docket. Lucio was so thrilled that he spent as much as he could on having it framed and proudly hung it on the wall. So moved was Nolan that he presented Lucio with a painting. And so it began. A mutual admiration society between great art and great hospitality.
In 1998, to celebrate 15 years of being in Paddington Lucio asked 15 of his artist friends to each paint a ceramic plate with a design, style and medium of their choosing. This unique collection has since been added to and hangs near the entrance to the kitchen and can be seen by all who walk to the main part of the restaurant. Lucio has sadly had to decline many an invitation for them to be exhibited elsewhere for fear of damage in transit.
To celebrate our 30 years in Paddington in 2013 Lucio has invited another 15 artists to create another plate each. These will be hung with the original 15 in the second half of the year to take the total to 30.
In 2009 Gary Shead’s portrait of Lucio entitled “The Soffritto of Lucio” was selected as a finalist for the Archibald prize.
In 2010, l’Espresso Magazine did a video report on “art restaurants” featuring Lucio’s. The video can be viewed here; we appear about 57 seconds from the end.
The Hungry Horse Art Gallery was once situated in this very building where a famous 1964 calendar was created featuring twelve of their then stable of artists. You can download a pdf of the calendar here. It is a wonderful step back in time. Not only for the painting from each of the twelve names, most of whom you will recognise, but also for the advertising.
Blue Swimmer by Colin Lancely
The Ligurian coast (?)
Environmental responsibility
Lucio’s continues to promote sound environmental management policies throughout the restaurant by addressing the issues of waste reduction, recycling, water saving & energy efficient equipment & eco friendly supplies. The menu features organic, bio-dynamic and sustainable produce where available.
