Italian celebrity chef Simone Rugiati has been reported in Milan for carrying weapons or objects capable of offending after an altercation with neighbors escalated on Thursday evening. The 43-year-old Tuscan chef, known for his television appearances on cooking programs, reportedly threatened his neighbors with a kitchen knife during a dispute over noise complaints.
The Incident
The incident occurred around 11 PM on November 28 on Via Signorelli, in the heart of Milan’s Chinatown, where Rugiati owns Food Loft, a multifunctional space that can be rented for corporate events, photo shoots, and gala dinners. The altercation reportedly stemmed from ongoing conflicts with neighbors over excessive noise from his establishment, contributing to tensions that culminated that evening.
Witnesses reported that Rugiati was visibly agitated, brandishing a large kitchen knife and shouting at tenants. He was heard shouting, “Come down, come down everyone,” threatening residents who had leaned out from their balconies, according to Il Secolo XIX. Two residents responded by leaning out from their balconies in response to his outburst.
Concerned about the chef’s behavior, a tenant called 112 to report the incident and request the intervention of law enforcement. A resident showed the Carabinieri a video in which Rugiati is seen shouting “Come down, come down everyone” with a knife in hand, leading to his being reported for illegal possession of weapons, as reported by Il Messaggero.
Weapon Recovered
Upon arriving at the scene, the Carabinieri found Rugiati alone and still in an altered state, with a big knife next to him, which was immediately seized by the investigators. The Carabinieri entered Rugiati’s restaurant, adopting all necessary safety measures since the report indicated an armed person, and found him alone and still altered.
Next to him, he reportedly had the incriminating kitchen knife, which was immediately seized. The Carabinieri seized the weapon and took Rugiati to the barracks; he was subsequently reported in a state of freedom. Rugiati was accused of carrying weapons or objects suitable for offense, specifically a kitchen knife during the incident.
This detail, as learned by Corriere della Sera, alarmed the residents of Via Signorelli, reported Il Giornale. The video was evidently directed at those living on the upper floors. The difficult coexistence between Rugiati’s venue and the neighbors had long been generating tensions, with residents often complaining about noise from Food Loft, contributing to the incident.
Simone Rugiati, who has police records according to Corriere della Sera, was taken to the Montebello barracks and reported in a state of freedom, as reported by Il Giornale. Law enforcement officials are continuing their investigation into the incident, and no further details have been released at this time.
Born in 1980 and originally from Empoli, Tuscany, Simone Rugiati graduated from the Ferdinando Martini Hotel Institute in Montecatini Terme. After various courses and training internships abroad, he worked as a commis in several Tuscan restaurants before making his television debut in 2002 with “La prova del cuoco” on Rai Uno, where he was a regular guest for years, according to Il Messaggero.
Rugiati is a well-known television personality in Italy, having built his fame through various programs, including Cuochi e Fiamme on La7, where he was at the helm from 2011 to 2018. He has also participated in famous reality shows, including L’Isola dei Famosi in 2010 and Pechino Express in 2012, and has authored several culinary-themed books, as noted by Il Fatto Quotidiano.
At the moment, Rugiati is engaged in a non-profit project in Kenya with the aim of combating malnutrition and is scheduled to depart for his second humanitarian mission in Watamu, Kenya, in December with his organization S-Chef for Future.
