Buenos Aires-born chef Adrian Quetglas, will step up as a mentor to young chef finalist Vitalii Savelev in the fourth edition of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef competition.
The Michelin starred chef nurtured a love of cooking at a young age, honing his skills in Paris and London, followed by a decade directing some of the most important restaurants in Russia.
The chef, who now splits his time between culinary projects in Moscow and Mallorca, will guide his young mentoree up to and including a live cook-off in Milan in May 2020.
Fine Dining Lovers caught up with the international chef to find out more about his love of cooking and how he can inspire his young chef to victory.
Can you remember the moment you decided to become a chef? What inspired you and what obstacles did you overcome to achieve your dream?
There are many factors that pushed me towards this wonderful profession, but I believe the fact that at home we cooked a lot and the importance we gave to good food favoured my love for it. I had to face many hardships because when you want to work in high-level kitchens you know you are demanded a lot. I have good memories, though, and seeing the results, it was worth it.
How important are competitions such as SPYC for young chefs?
Taking part in a competition as important as SPYC is a huge opportunity for any chef who wants to stand out in the field of avant-garde cuisine. The projection of this competition is really important and it allows younger chefs to achieve the importance they deserve. The initiative of valuing sustainability in the kitchen is indispensable if we want to keep enjoying the produce our planet gives us.
