Name: Virgilio Martinez
Home Restaurant: Central
Home Restaurant Location: Lima (Peru)
Gelinaz! Shuffle Location: Secret
EVERYBODY LOVES GELINAZ! WHAT DO YOU LOVE BEST ABOUT IT?
I love the feeling of a complete freedom in a new place, with different culture and ingredients, where you learn from scratch from another restaurant and its team. It’s a very deep way of learning their philosophy and culture and a great challenge for each of us.
HOW WOULD YOU EXPRESS YOUR LAST YEAR’S EXPERIENCE IN 3 SENTENCES?
It was fantastic experiencing a different sea (at the wild west of Denmark – Henne Kirkeby Kro), different products, different environments and different working processes. It all makes you think also about things at home – about the differences and similarities. Because at the end, all we want is giving the best of us.
I love to look back at the great people I met and the lovely atmosphere they created. It made me feel welcome and comfortable. Everyone at Henne was amazing to me.
My experience was a pure pleasure of sharing within a talented team.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST THIS YEAR?
I am very much looking forward to working in a new place with a great new team, and being trusted. I love exchanging experiences and knowledge. When going to different places people allow you to be yourself and do your things at the same time as they do theirs – we respect each other and learn together. You can’t imagine how much you learn through working in another kitchen. Sharing food is also about sharing culture.
AND WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MESSAGE FOR THE CHEF WHO WILL COOK IN YOUR KITCHEN?
Get involved with my team – they are wiling and very much looking forward to seeing and experiencing something different to what we normally do at Central, so just take the kitchen and do whatever you please. Also the guests will appreciate the new experience.
