Born in Padua in the 1968, Raffaele (Raf) Alajmo began his career alongside his father Erminio in the dining room of Le Calandre as a sommelier. He deepened his wine knowledge by visiting wineries across Italy and France, speaking with winemakers and owners of the great wine bars and enotecas.

In 1994, Raf and Max took over Le Calandre with the goal of making the restaurant one of the best in Italy. Now, over twenty years later, Raffaele is CEO and maître des lieux of the Alajmo restaurant group, driving the family business and managing over 14 restaurants, an events business and a line of food and design products.