Chef Christian Puglisi has today announced that his two flagship Copenhagen restaurants, Relae and Manfreds, will close by the end of the year.
The Danish/Italian chef shared the news in a heartfelt Instagram post saying that his two restaurants have now "grown up" and it's time to move on.
In the post he reflects on the impact the two restaurants have had on Copenhagen's food scene over a decade: "Relae and Mandreds have changed a neighbourhood, made an impact on the global culinary scene, fought for people to take organic agriculture seriously, made tartar great again, and created countless memories, emotions, and unforgettable experiences for myself, visiting guests and staff alike."
"My dreams came true and I proudly managed to achieve it all while picking every fight to keep my independence," he wrote, while leaving a cryptic reason for his departure. "Only in this last year have I realised, that while my drive and need for independence has not dwindled, fighting for my freedom today, means doing less."
The announcement has been met with positive feedback from across the chef and food community with thousands wishing him well, congratulating him and thanking him for their food experiences.
However, it does look like we can see more from this hugely popular chef, who finishes by saying: "Me and my team are not leaving the race folks. We have crossed the goal line."
The loss of both restaurants will serve as a blow to the Copenhagen culinary scene. Puglisi's casual farm-to-table eatery and wine bar Manfreds opened in 2010 as the 'little brother' to his more serious Michelin-starred sibling across the road. Relæ consistently hit the high notes with appearances in the
World's 50 Best list (it currently sits at no.56) and served as Puglisi's manifestation of a sustainable and organically focused restaurant. It remains to be seen what will happen to the rest of the Relæ Community
