Julieta Caruso
HEAD CHEF/OWNER, CASA CAVIA & LA CABRONA
BARILOCHE, ARGENTINA
Meet one of our favorite Argentine chefs - Julieta Caruso, owner of several restaurants around Argentina, including Casa Cavia in Buenos Aires and La Cabrona, our favorite food truck in Bariloche.
In the years after her schooling, Julieta traveled extensively through Europe, Asia, and South America, working for different restaurants and (of course) eating and cooking new dishes. She ultimately returned back to her hometown in Patagonia to start her family.
Join us on our Argentina x Patagonia experience and Julieta will be cooking for us beneath the stars in a Patagonian forest.
Follow Julieta on here.
“Travel trains my palate to understand that food is more than just a dish; it is memory, is tradition, is history, is products and producers”
LEARN MORE ABOUT JULIETA
1. HOW HAS YOUR PERSONAL JOURNEY IN CULINARY ARTS BEEN SHAPED BY YOUR TRAVELS?
Food is culture, so travel has taught me to taste, think about and understand gastronomy in different places better. Travel trains my palate to understand that food is more than just a dish; it is memory, is tradition, is history, is products and producers.
2. WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART ABOUT OWNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
My dream was and is to learn constantly. Now I’m learning a new part of cooking that is much more than to just cook. Owning a restaurant is an opportunity to learn from myself, as I have freedom to decide and am 100% responsible.
3. HOW DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION FOR NEW DISHES?
Inspiration is everywhere, you can be inspired in the most unusual situations. The thing is to have open mind and practice the way to take this inspiration and turn it into something new. I think I am on constant alert to detect these things. Also, I draw from the different aspects of my work, like the season of the products, producers I work with, memory of all my trips and all the techniques I know. Also it’s important to me in the moment when I create dishes to challenge myself.
4. WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE YOU HAVE TRAVELED TO? WHAT INSPIRED YOU ABOUT IT?
I think all the places I travel have been a favorite in some way. All of them teach me something. But if I have to choose one, I would say Japan. I love the years of tradition, their value of perfection, and perseverance to do everything right always. One of the things I admire most from Japanese culture is the respect they have for everything.
5. WHAT IS A SUBJECT THAT FASCINATES YOU? WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT?
One activity that became something really special for me is yoga. I began practicing a long time ago and still continue looking for teachers that inspire me. In all the places I have been, I practiced different types of yoga with different teachers until I found my own style. I try to see all the faces of the subject and find different ways to understand it. I believe that when something matters to me it is important to know more and more about it. In this learning I enjoy it most.
6. WHAT DOES A DAY OFF LOOK LIKE?
A day off before I had my daughter meant sleeping and enjoying good food for dinner. Now it’s totally different… no sleep at all, but good food for dinner remains the same! Sometimes going to a restaurant, some days cooking at home. I typically enjoy all day with my daughter, do my yoga class, and enjoy the day outside if possible.