Italian chef Gualtiero Marchesi, widely considered the father of the country's nouvelle cuisine, died Tuesday in his native city of Milan at the age of 87, local media said. Marchesi ran the restaurant "Marchesino", located in the heart of Milan on the prestigious Piazza della Scala.

After studying in Italy, Switzerland and France, Marchesi opened his first restaurant in Milan in 1977, which eight years later went on to be awarded three coveted Michelin stars -- the first Italian establishment to do so. On the back of this success, he opened kitchens and cafes in Italy, France and Japan.