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Valletta, Malta
Name: Chef Roderick Vella Age: 32 Nationality: Maltese Country of Residence: Malta
1. Your Restaurant/Business:
In the 5 star Excelsior Grand Hotel, Valletta, Malta.
2. About Your Kitchen:
Different kitchens serving buffets, light snacks, room service and also an A la carte restaurant
3. Your Favorite Chef Works Item:
The Chefs jackets are very comfortable to work in especially for our hot kitchen and climate.
4. First Job:
Apprentice Chef at the 5 star Westin Dragonara Resort, Malta.
5. Your Favorite Cookbook:
White Heat by Marco Pierre White.
6. Your Awards:
I compete both locally and internationally. Won Best Chef in The 2013 Malta Kulinarja Cookery & Culinary Arts Championships.
7. Your Cooking Inspiration:
Fresh seasonal food cooked from the heart.
8. Your Speciality Dish:
Pressed Trotter Terrine, Braised Cheek, sous vide loin with Mushroom Farce, textures in Brassicas Olearecas, Pomme Fondant & Thyme Jus
9. Favorite Dish To Eat:
Braised pork cheeks and mashed potatoes
10. Weirdest Thing You Ever Ate:
Fried worms
11. Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:
My Pastry Chef’s yuzu (East Asian citrus fruit) & chocolate ice cream.
12. Favorite Drink:
Cisk Lager and Kinnie (a soft canned drink) both local Maltese drinks.
13. Favorite Wine:
I don’t have a favorite wine.
14. Who Would You Most Like To Cook For:
Gordon Ramsey.
15. Who Would You Least Like To Cook For:
Anybody that doesn’t appreciate food.
16. Favorite Things To Do When Not Cooking:
Spending time with my son.
17. Your Latest Project:
Competing in Luxembourg in the Culinary World Cup.
18. Favorite City and Why:
Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy for the fantastic food.
19. Your Greatest Indulgence:
Meat especially sausages.
20. Your All Time Best Culinary Tip:
Escoffier, whose philosophy was ‘Good food is the basis of true happiness’.