Italian Chef Values Multicultural Experience

By Kim Tae-jong

Staff Reporter

Gianluca Re Fraschini is an Italian chef, who developed his career at the fairly young age of 16 and even won a Michelin Star, one of the greatest honors by the world's most influential travel guide, at the age of 20.

But it seems what has led him to his current status of top chef is not only his passion for cooking but also the joy that he has from working in kitchens around the world.

``I could combine my passion for cooking and passion for traveling because you can travel a lot of countries, meeting people with different nationalities and learning their culture and eating all the types of food,'' he told The Korea Times at the Lotte Hotel Seoul.

Born in Milan in 1976, he has worked in other countries including France, Spain, Dubai and Malaysia. He believes that his experience in different countries helps him offer delight and satisfaction at the table of his customers.

He was invited to Lotte Hotel Seoul's Italian restaurant, Peninsula, as the second in a series of celebrity chefs. Staying through June 8, he promised to create exquisite masterpieces for diners here.

``The menu I have worked on is something very simple and authentic. As I worked with Asian people for a long time in Asia, I know what Asian people like,'' he said.