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Paolo Lopriore, chef of Il Portico in Appiano Gentile, won the 2026 Bob Noto Award at Buonissima in Turin. The jury cited his commitment to an individual culinary vision, reflecting this year’s theme, “Passion.”
Paolo Lopriore, chef of Il Portico in Appiano Gentile, has won the 2026 Bob Noto Award, presented in Turin during the sixth edition of the Buonissima food festival. The jury selected him under this year’s theme, “Passion,” citing his commitment to a distinctive culinary vision and his refusal to shape it around convention.
The prize was presented at La Centrale Nuvola Lavazza in Turin. Buonissima’s 2026 program brought chefs and other figures from international gastronomy to the city, with events taking place at restaurants, traditional eateries and art venues. A dinner honoring Lopriore and the late Bob Noto was held at Del Cambio.
The award jury was chaired by Antonella Fassio, Noto’s wife. Its members included chefs Ferran Adrià and Paolo Griffa; publisher Marco Bolasco; Sara Peirone, LEA Projects & Communication Manager; and Buonissima artistic directors Matteo Baronetto, Stefano Cavallito and Luca Iaccarino. The jury’s citation described passion as more than energy or enthusiasm: it connected the idea to Lopriore’s dedication to a personal way of cooking.
Lopriore accepted a statuette depicting Noto in a pop-art style. He said the award was among the two most important of his career, alongside the Pellegrino Artusi Award he received in 2020. In his remarks, he said that recognition had helped him see his work’s value as cultural rather than tied to rankings, and recalled Noto’s advice about how he carried himself during conversations.
A Prize for Culinary Conviction
The award recognizes a chef for the ideas and discipline behind his work, rather than presenting a restaurant ranking or a review of a single meal. The jury’s emphasis on Lopriore’s individual culinary language and determination to pursue it gives the prize a clear focus on creative identity within contemporary gastronomy.
For readers following Italian dining, the recognition also places Lopriore among a group of past recipients that includes chefs and hospitality figures known for different contributions to food culture. It records the jury’s view of his career at this point; it does not, by itself, establish a change in his restaurant’s standing or provide a ranking of restaurants.
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Lopriore’s Path to the Prize
Originally from Como, Lopriore learned about cooking from his mother, Rosa, and joined Gualtiero Marchesi after graduating from culinary school. His subsequent work included Enoteca Pinchiorri, restaurants in France and Norway, and L’Albereta, where he worked with Enrico Crippa, before he returned to the Como area.
The Bob Noto Award is named for the Turin-based food enthusiast, who died in 2017. Previous recipients named in the report include Andoni Luis Aduriz in 2021, Massimiliano and Raffaele Alajmo in 2022, René Redzepi in 2023, dining-room manager Mariella Organi in 2024 and Alain Passard in 2025. The editions were associated respectively with themes including irreverence, irony, creativity, empathy and talent.
This year’s award presentation was one event in Buonissima, whose program also included a dinner at Palazzo Madama featuring ten chefs. The festival’s scheduled dates ran through October 25; the source report does not give a separate calendar date for the award presentation.
““Every chef is unique and inimitable, but not all are driven by the burning conviction that they have a mission. That is passion.””
— The Bob Noto Award jury
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Details Beyond the Award
The source report does not specify the exact date of the presentation, the full judging process, or whether the jury considered a formal shortlist. It also does not describe any changes to Lopriore’s role at Il Portico or announce plans tied to the award. The citation records the jury’s assessment, while broader claims about the prize’s status are not accompanied by comparative data in the report.
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Buonissima’s Remaining Events
At the time covered by the report, Buonissima was due to continue through October 25, with events across Turin. The award dinner at Del Cambio was described as the first of a series of festival events. The available report does not identify a further award-related announcement or a next milestone for Lopriore; readers seeking event schedules can consult Buonissima’s program.
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Key Questions
Who won the 2026 Bob Noto Award?
Paolo Lopriore, chef of Il Portico in Appiano Gentile, received the award.
Why did the jury choose Lopriore?
The jury said his career reflected the theme “Passion”, pointing to his commitment to a distinct culinary vision and his resolve to follow it without conforming to convention.
Where was the award presented?
It was presented at La Centrale Nuvola Lavazza in Turin during the sixth edition of Buonissima.
Who was Bob Noto?
Bob Noto was a Turin-based food enthusiast, and the award is named in his honor. He died in 2017.
What happens after the award presentation?
Buonissima’s festival program was scheduled to continue through October 25. The report does not announce a separate next step for Lopriore or his restaurant.
Source: rss
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