Francesco Leonardi was an Italian chef and food author, born in Rome, and active in the 18th century in several European countries.
He concluded his career as chef of Empress Catherine II of Russia.
Back in Rome, he wrote the cookbook L'Apicio moderno, ("Modern Apicius") in six volumes, first edited in 1790.
At the end of the book, a glossary of French culinary terms evidences his awareness of the state of the Italian cuisine, at that time heavily dependent on French cuisine.
Leonardi also portrays a vast list of the wines in the sixth volume.