@midiariodecocina

WE’RE FOLLOWING CAROLINA ROJAS, A CHEF AND BLOGGER ORIGINALLY FROM VALPARAÍSO, CHILE, NOW LIVING IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA

What did you eat growing up?

My mother always cooked Chilean dishes. One of my favourites is pollo arvejado (pea and chicken stew), often served with rice or fries.

Why did you start your blog?

When I moved to the US, there was a lot of physical distance between me and Chile. The blog signifies a connection with my home country and its people. It’s also a good way to keep myself up to date with everything that’s going on in the world of gastronomy.

How would you describe your cooking style?

Quite diverse. While a great part of my work focuses on Chilean food, I’ve also worked on recipes from across Latin America and Europe, as well as the US. I try to make my cooking as simple as possible.

Where do you eat when you’re visiting Valparaíso?

I love Tres Peces, a restaurant located in the neighbourhood of Cerro Alegre. It’s fabulous because it has really good, fresh seafood, which is one of the things I miss most about Chile.

What other cuisines do you love?

I’m fascinated by Italian cuisine, and I’ve been studying its origins lately. I also enjoy Israeli, Japanese and Chinese food.

Who do you look up to in the culinary world?

The Argentinian chef Francis Mallmann. I’m inspired by his level of professionalism — whether he’s cooking in a formal kitchen or a grill house somewhere on the other side of the world.

Do you have a favourite cookbook?

It’s hard to pick one, but I’d say

Ottolenghi Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi. It combines many of those impactful flavours he’s famous for with really simple recipes.