In this episode, Lucia Soria, chef, restaurateur, author, and Uruguayan Masterchef judge, joins Liz to discuss her food and who she is as a cook. Lucia, born and raised in Argentina, launched her culinary career with chef Francis Mallmann, eventually landing in coastal Uruguay and later in the capital of Montevideo. Lucia’s cooking style always produces a “feel-good” state. She uses simplicity, fresh produce, layers of flavor, and texture to create recipes and dishes with a sense of seasonality, generosity, and homey-ness. She’s also pushing the envelope in her vision of Uruguayan cuisine as she fosters moving away from the meat-centric traditions to championing plant- and sea-based offerings at her current restaurants Jacinto and Pizza Rosa in Montevideo.
In this episode we talk about:
• Lucia’s roots in appreciating food and cooking
• The foundations of her culinary career with Argentine celebrity chef Francis Mallman
• Lucia’s path as a chef and restaurateur in Uruguay
• Her flavorful, elemental, produce-driven cooking style
• How her food philosophy and approach in her Montevideo restaurants tie into the larger Uruguayan, and South American, food scene
• Lucia’s other pursuits as being a judge on Masterchef and cookbook author
Resources:
KNACK SOUTH AMERICAN COOKING: URUGUAYAN STEAK SANDWICH
MOVE OVER CHIMICHURRI, URUGUAYAN SALSA CRIOLLA IS IN THE HOUSE
MONTEVIDEO: COOL & COMING UP, PART I
