Lefteris lazarou biography channels 3
One of the most influential Greek chefs, Lefteris Lazarou, chef-patron of the emblematic restaurant “Varoulko” and the newest “arrival” &#;Bites & Wine&#; in Piraeus, takes us on a trip down memory lane and opens up about his humble beginnings, his love of the city of Piraeus and his plans for the future.
A third-generation resident of the port city of Piraeus, Lefteris is part of the gourmet legacy of Greece, and a die-hard fan of Ethnikos football club, the local rivals of Greek giants Olympiakos.
Lefteris lazarou biography channels 2 As our great poet Odysseus Elytis once famously said, if you deconstruct Greece, you will see at the end that what is left is an olive tree, a vineyard and a fishing boat. In the same land, the famous chef Lefteris Lazarou uses these ingredients to create a unique seafood experience in his restaurant, Varoulko. His recognition came not only in the form of a Michelin star in —the first one ever awarded to a restaurant serving Greek food in Greece— but also in the form of various awards every year. Lefteris Lazarou draws his inspiration from the sea. His constantly evolving cuisine is creative but redolent of tradition as well as innovative yet unmistakably Greek.Unpretentious and passionate, the restless chef is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the launch of the historic “Varoulko”. He is one of the most decorated chefs in Greece, with global recognition, as the 16 years in a row, Michelin Chef stars testify, as well as his numerous domestic awards.
While walking through the alleys of his old neighbourhood in Piraeus, Lefteris takes us to the fish market and we visit the first two shops that hosted his culinary &#;craziness&#;.
He knows Piraeus like the back of his hand.
He even remembers the street alleys by their old names. &#;At the age of 12 I persuaded my father to take me with him when he shipped out to the sea.
Lefteris lazarou biography channels Lefteris Lazarou is a Greek chef. Born in at Piraeus, Athens Greece. He is the son of a ship chef. He is currently the chef in the Athens-based restaurant called 'Varoulko' [ 1 ] which is considered a high quality dining place. He himself opened Varoulko inI had begun to feel my love for what he did early on. I watched him cook snails in the pot and pick it up for free from the winegrower&#;s shop, and I gradually realised what I wanted to do. It was a one-way street. I started at a very early age.”, he says.
He tells stories going a long way back when Piraeus hardly resembled today&#;s city at all.
Lefteris lazarou biography channels youtube The great cooking adventure of his life. He lived in a house next to the sea in Piraeus, where along with his father, were scouring the seabed for any kind of goods using makeshift tools. In a neighborhood with delicious cheese pies from Mr. Lefteris Lazarou grew up between flavours and faces that got brightened in front of a steaming pot. His childhood hero was his father who was a ship cook and Lefteris used to open up date shells on Sundays discovering the secrets of sea food alongside him.He takes us down streets that were once full of detached houses and dirt roads, shops with taverns, and shows us the places that housed traditional cafes in which the fans of Ethnikos and Olympiakos used to hang out.
Once we arrive at Deligiorgi street, where the second Varoulko opened he reminisces about the times when world leaders would stop and marvel at the beauty of his restaurant&#;s window.
&#;This is where almost all the political leaders of Greece and Europe have passed by. The shop in its evolution was a beauty! Politicians such as De Gaulle, D&#;Alema, and others would stop outside and the neighborhood was terrified by the draconian security measures and the army of police officers because they did not know what was happening.&#;
In the second &#;Varoulko&#; in Deligiorgi, where Lefteris Lazaros was transferred in
With the President of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Association of Sydney and the President of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs in Greece
The fish market is the first stop of the chef on a daily basis
With the top French chef Bernard Loiseau, in Deligiorgi&#;s &#;Varoulko&#;
With the chairman of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Association of Sydney in Deligiorgi&#;s &#;Varoulko&#;
A young Lefteris Lazarou
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