'Visionary' Highland capital restaurateur dies aged 60
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Tribute has been paid to a visionary restaurateur credited for introducing fine dining to Inverness.
Adrian Pieraccini, who established a range of top eating places in the city as well as in Edinburgh and St Andrews, has passed away suddenly aged 60.
He was the man who launched both the Rocpool Reserve and La Riviera restaurant at the former Glenmoriston Hotel, later the Glenmoriston Townhouse Hotel, in the Highland capital.
He is also credited with having helped launch the careers of top Michelin-starred chefs such Alan Murchison and Michael Smith while Norman MacDonald, owner of the city’s Café 1, said he set extremely high standards.
Mr Pieraccini grew up in Inverness but had lived near Dunfermline in recent years.
He was taken ill earlier this week and passed away at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy on Wednesday. He leaves a wife, Susan, and a son, Stefano.
His cousin, Martin Pieraccini, who runs Charlie’s Café in Inverness, said: “The whole family is in a state of shock.”
He said his legacy was all around the city.
"He set the standard for top eating places," he said.
During his career, Mr Pieraccini – who learnt his trade in Italy – was involved in various ventures in the Highland capital including a successful bistro-style restaurant called Riva as well as the Rocpool Restaurant and the Rocpool Reserve.
He was also involved in the Rocca Restaurant in St Andrews and the West Room and The Broughton in Edinburgh.
Alan Murchison, who worked at some of the UK’s top restaurants before setting up his own restaurant group and cookery school and later moving into sports nutrition for elite athletes, said Mr Pieraccini had been hugely beneficial to his career.
He recalled starting out as a 16-year-old kitchen porter at the Glenmoriston Hotel.
"Adrian was a great leader and he had vision for the restaurant," he said.
"He installed standards which I had never seen before.
"He encouraged me to develop myself as a chef and personally.
"I would never have got my first Michelin star restaurant had it not been for Adrian."
Norman MacDonald also started his career as a dishwasher at the Glenmoriston Hotel before becoming a waiter and then, with Mr Pieraccini’s encouragement, quickly moved into management, becoming restaurant manager aged just 21.
He recalled how Mr Pieraccini built up La Riviera restaurant.
"It was the first fine dining restaurant in Inverness and it was a hub for the community," he said, recalling its pink table cloths and impressive sweet trolley.
"People would race through their food so they could have their selection.
"At no point in that period of having high standards and being at the top of the game did he ever stand still."
He had continued to develop various establishments including being part of a venture to transform the former Culduthel Lodge into the Rocpool Reserve Hotel and Restaurant which was subsequently sold and where Albert Roux – who also died this week – later opened a restaurant.
"My idea of a heavenly dinner would be Adrian Pieraccini serving and Albert Roux cooking," Mr MacDonald said.
He described Mr Pieraccini as being "flamboyant" in every part of his life.
"There was no compromise," he said.
"He had the biggest car. He wore the most expensive clothes. He went on the best of holidays.
"Sadly, Adrian was not here for a long time. He was here for a good time."
A funeral mass for Mr Pieraccini will be held at noon on Monday, January 18 at William T Fraser and Son, Culduthel Road, Inverness.
Attendance will be limited due to coronavirus restrictions but the service will be streamed live at williamtfraserandson.co.uk
Related story: World-renowned chef Albert Roux who had close links with the Highlands dies aged 85
