Chef Vinod Sookar

When the sun of Africa and the wealth of the seas are melted, by coincidence, it happens that an enchanted island culinary tradition and the rainbow of Italian culinary cultures create an extraordinary mix! It’s the life story of Mauritian chef Vinod Sookar. First of all he fall in love with Italian cuisine that had long studied, then he met his future wife chef Antonella Ricci and … he decided to move to Puglia (in Southern Italy).

Chef Vinod has managed to grow two kitchens with great perseverance and commitment, one of his country of origin, which are the islands of Mauritius: a great source of fresh fish, fruits and spices. It has also opened up the doors to the millenium old Apulian tradition, particularly to the art of making sausages and cold cuts: he is considered one of the Masters of Capocollo (cured neck pork meat) in Apulia.

The family restaurant "Al fornello da Ricci" in Ceglie Messapica (near by Brindisi) has been awarded a Michelin Star since 1992. Together with his wife chef Antonella Ricci, his mother in Law Dora and and sister in law Rossella Ricci, chef Vinod serves regional cuisine or the great dishes of the Italian tradition, but also some highly sought innovative dishes in which the touch of freshness Mauritian pairs well with the collection of fresh products (from the fertile Apulian land and the two seas Adriatic and Ionian).

He brought his culture of food, wide as the world, from Helsinki to Boston to Dubai in very prestigious events, with both public entities and private individuals. He is a lecturer in several courses of Italian cuisine, host of numerous shows on national television and radio. It'was the executive chef in charge of typical Food & Beverage of the prestigiuos Mediterranean Cooking School in Ceglie Messapica.

Everything else could be defined as “The world on a plate", as chef Sookar moved from a prestigious sea resort in Mauritius up to the restaurant “Al fornello da Ricci” in the 90s. He never neglected an intense associative life devoting more than 10 years as a regional director of the Jeunes Restorateurs d’Europe in Apulia.

He has been organizing every year, since almost two decades, a great ethnic dinner with several chefs from all over the world. He also finds the time for teaching in cooking classes at “A tavola con lo chef” in Rome, the IFOA courses in Alberobello of for GAL Alto Salento as well as the theater kitchen Gambero Rosso, in Food Festivals with Andy Luotto, Fede & Tinto (Fuori di Gusto for La 7 national tv) and Paolo Marchi (Girotonno in Sardinia), Cibus in Parma, at Vinitaly in Verona, with the Chef Gennaro Esposito for "Festa a Vico", with Chef Marcello Leone for restaurants earthquake victims in Emilia Romagna. Countless times he and his wife chef Antonella have been on national tv show, including as a finalist for the leading Italian culinary show “La Prova del Cuoco” on Rai Uno. They are testimonials for the advertising campaign of Granoro pasta and Meltin’ Pot chef suits. Over the last 4 years new challenges are coming from of the Middle East in various collaborations in Dubai, as well as in Africa in Istanbul.

The so-called "Romeo and Julieth" of the Italian cuisine represented the charming Italian cuisine during the two World Summit in Singapore and Dubai. Now for those who want to continue to follow, even at a distance, Sookar we suggest you click #chefvinodsookar !