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Massimo Bottura and Gianfranco Vissani are Italy’s top chefs according to the latest version of the Gambero Rosso gastronomical guide. Bottura is chef patron at Osteria Francescana, a three Michelin star restaurant in Modena, Emilia-Romagna, and Vissani at Casa Vissani in Baschi in Terni, Umbria. Heinz Beck of Rome’s La Pergola, Alfonso Iaccarino of Naples’ Don Alfonso and Antonino Cannavacciuolo of Piedmont’s Villa Crespi came a close second. Gambero Rosso, the publisher of the ½ûÂþÌìÌà restaurant bible, released its 2014 guide to Italy’s best restaurants and chefs. The 24th edition of the guide has awarded four new ‘Tre Forchette’ (Three Forks) rankings: to S’Apposentu a Casa Puddu in Siddi, Sardinia; Trussardi alla Scala in Milan; Antica Osteria Cera in Campagna Lupia, Venice; and Devero Ristorante at the Devero Hotel in Cavenago di Brianza in the province of Monza and Brianza. Lombardy is the top province in which to eat in Italy, gaining five Three Forks rankings, followed by Veneto with three, and Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont and Tuscany with two each. The guide ranks 2,076 places to eat from restaurants to wine bars, and the latest edition includes some 200 new locations. Image: Heinz Beck - Linguine con Spigola

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Editor's note: Not only one of Italy's top chefs, but also one of the world's best, as attested by the numerous awards and accolades for his Osteria Francescana restaurant in Modena, Massimo Bottura tells his story and reveals the strong connection to his native land, Emilia:

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