TRIBUTES have been paid to Tino Rossi – who owned and ran La Capannina for six decades – describing the much-cherished restaurateur as a “one of Jersey’s great hospitality legends”.
Mr Rossi, who opened the Halkett Place institution in 1966, died last week.
Jersey Hospitality Association co-chief executive Marcus Calvani said: “There are some people whose names become woven into the fabric of an island. People who dedicate not just their careers, but their lives, to making countless memories for others. For Jersey’s hospitality industry, Tino Rossi was one of those people.
“For decades, Tino stood at the heart of La Capannina, welcoming generations of Islanders and visitors alike. Whether it was a wedding, birthday, anniversary, business lunch, family celebration, or simply a special evening out, there was every chance that Tino would be there standing proudly beside his beloved reservation book, greeting guests with warmth, professionalism, and that unmistakable Italian charm.
“Even in later years, as health challenges became more difficult, Tino’s passion for hospitality never faded. It was not uncommon to see him sitting in the restaurant he loved so much, enjoying lunch, sharing stories, and catching up with the many familiar faces whose lives he had touched over the years. He remained part of the heartbeat of La Capannina until the very end.”
Mr Calvani added: “Tino belonged to a remarkable generation of European hospitality professionals who came to Jersey and helped transform our culinary landscape.
“Alongside many talented Italians and other Europeans, he brought with him a level of training, skill, elegance, and dedication that elevated dining standards across the island. Jersey owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to that generation. They introduced not only exceptional food and wine, but a culture of genuine hospitality, where service was an art form and every guest was treated as someone special.
“On a personal level, I have known Tino for my entire life. I remember him catering events in my grandparents’ home and, right through to my grandfather’s final years, helping celebrate his birthday parties. My grandfather always looked forward to seeing Tino, sharing a chat, and catching up on life.
“Those moments speak volumes about the kind of man he was. He wasn’t simply serving meals; he was building relationships that lasted decades. They also remind me of the wider contribution made by that pioneering generation of Italians who chose Jersey as their home.”
Those paying tribute online include Don Le Flem, who wrote: “So deeply saddened to hear of Tino’s passing. I first walked through the doors of La Capanninia when I was 20, and now at 76, it truly feels like the end of an era.
“Tino didn’t just build a restaurant, he built an Island institution filled with a lifetime of wonderful memories for so many of us who knew him well.”
Meanwhile, Robert Michieli wrote: “RIP Zio Tino. Tino came over from London to Jersey with my dad Sergio Michieli. Hopefully they will be in heaven looking down and saying their days were better than these.”
