by Lucas Raven
What inspires you every day?
For me it can be everything and everywhere, we just need to listen and watch. The world. We’re living in such a beautiful place, with nature, culture, and people. I love the details found in-between these elements. They all have their own uniqueness. That’s also the whole idea behind my motto “to see the new, change the view, taste the menu”.
What’s the signature dish that you created for After Seven?
I created, “Pigeon Cappuccino”. It’s a confit pigeon leg with liver creme brulé, shallot marmalade, and coffee foam.
Where did you begin your culinary journey?
I started my journey when I was 16, and 20 years later it hasn’t stopped. I did my first apprenticeship in Germany and started working in a few Michelin Restaurants including the best restaurants in the world, Heston Blumenthal and Tim Raue, before I started working with After Seven and I became the youngest chef who held 2 Michelin stars in Europe.
If your menu at After Seven was a storybook, what kind of story would it be telling?
An adventure. It’s like Peter Pan in Never Neverland.
The Epic journey of the chef who always doesn’t want to stop playing and having fun with the ingredients. Travel The World, Taste The Food. Change The View, See The New.
What’s your personal favorite dish on the menu?
I dubbed it After Seven’s Pho, we creatively use our coffee machine to infuse the beef broth on the table and pour it over the short ribs.
Has cooking always been your passion?
Cooking has always been my biggest passion and clubbing is my biggest hobby. Those 2 things inspired me to envision Vernissage. As Managing Director and Executive Chef of After Seven, I’ve had the privileged to revamp the image of Vernissage to be that one-stop lifestyle entertainment that it is today. An art gallery, restaurant, bar, club and cinema in one. The latest one is Diner’s Club, different from After Seven. It’s only open during winter. This high-end gastronomy restaurant is open the whole year. It’s not fine dining, it’s a “fun-tastic” dining destination.
Please share your top tips for aspiring chefs out there?
Open your mind without losing your mind.
What do you love most about Zermatt?
The snow
Describe After Seven in one word:
Dream
Visit www.backstagehotel.ch and discover the place to be in Zermatt.
