By Okosun Dennis
As GTCO Food and Drink 2025 began on Friday, 2nd May, children, especially students of various secondary schools had a rare opportunity as participants in the Masterclass to be tutored on the arts and methodology of preparing pizzas under the guidance of international Creative Director of La Taverna, Christian Duhalde.
Shortly after been introduced by the compere, Olajumoke and was ushered into the expansive, well designed kitchen, the chef wasted no time showcasing his expertise while he engaged four little kids who volunteered to assist him. It was a moment full of expectations, questions that turned into realistic pizza.
According to Christian Duhalde, the owner and Creative Director of La Travena, a prestigious Latin American and Spanish restaurant in Lagos, Nigeria, he loves the opportunity to chose what he wanted to do.
He explained that his passion for cooking was impeccably driven by the fact that he was influenced by parental compulsion but strictly according to his choice of profession.
Therefore, his advice to the children was that whatever “you want to do, do it with love. Don’t be tired of cooking but show greater commitment.” For those that want to go into culinary service, “they should try and work in a restaurant, hotel to see what the life of a chef is,” he explained during an interview.
Duhalde has worked in Nigeria for about 18 years and had almost three decades in the culinary business that cuts across the globe. Specifically, he began in 1996 after graduating from Le Cordon Bleu in Peru and Intectur in Chile, working at several restaurants in Chile, his home country, Latin America, Europe Oceania and Africa.
These global experience fetched him an awards, including Chile’s National Champion of Chefs in 2004.
Chef Duhalde’s experience in Nigeria dates back to 2008, where he worked at esteemed restaurants and held private dinners at landmark locations, including the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock.
In 2013, he opened La Travena, which has gained popularity among food lovers and earned recognition as one of the best restaurants in Lagos, famous for its “Best Pizza in Lagos.” The restaurant has spread its tentacles to Abuja, Nigeria.
Asked about his best Nigerian food, Chef Duhalde, who has earned a Nigerian name: Olusegun disclosed that his favourites food include jollof rice, Peppersoup and Moi Moi.
According to the Chief Executive Officer, GTCO plc, Mr Segun Agbaje said that the GTCO Food and Drink Festival, brings this tradition to life; celebrating not only food, but the people who make it and the cultures it represents, while providing a free, vibrant, and commercially viable platform for small food businesses in Nigeria to grow and thrive.
GTCO Food and Drink 2025 8th edition is featuring Christian Duhalde, Chef Hiroo Nagahara, Shalamar Lane, Lasheeda Perry, Daniel Galmiche, Chef Tam, Hardette Harris, Lorenzo Cogo, Chef Thomas Zacharias and Gabriel Rodriguez during the three days showcase of different cuisines during the Masterclasses.
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