Born in Kruševac, Serbia, Biljana Kebakoska Dimitrijević studied world literature in Belgrade, turned to cooking at 40 and now invents ice cream at Angelato Café in Prague.
My name is Biljana Kebakoska Dimitrijević. I was born in 1965 in Kruševac, Serbia. When a difficult period began in my country, my family and I moved to the Czech Republic, and for the last twenty years I have been living in Prague.
I am not a chef. I’m a modern-day witch: cooking is magic, isn’t it? I am a fearless and creative cook. I invent, mix, make and serve ice cream for everyone to enjoy.
For me, being a chef is about more than preparing delicious food. Cooking is the way we live, the fragrances we smell, the colors we prefer, making people happy. I love the variety in my life: my time and attention are evenly divided between family and food.
I enjoy cooking, especially for my daughter Gala, who is 13. I enjoy teaching her and showing her new ingredients, and she loves that I teach her.
My studies in world literature in Belgrade opened my mind to new ideas. Life is not endless. At the age of 40 I decided to devote myself to “something else”, and from the world of literature I jumped into the world of culinary art. Cooking is my passion, and today it is more than my job.
I have loved cooking all my life. My mother taught me everything I know about it. She believes in using what you already have in your kitchen and making recipes your own!
Culinary culture is something we learn in childhood. It means being open and accepting of others, of new emotions as well as new flavors. Our family always indulged in good food, a tradition I continue to this day.
Culinary art means cooking simply, easily and playfully, always with imagination. Completely ordinary ingredients, perfectly balanced recipes and sensitive work with raw materials can conjure up the best ice cream.
At Angelato we play around with recipes in the kitchen all the time. I like to try new things and I’m not afraid to experiment; I’m always tasting as I add things bit by bit. Ideas come by themselves, in both color and taste.
My culinary world is a set of moments and details. Cooking is like writing: you have a few words, the ingredients, and the art is to turn them into unique stories. Cooking is like music: you have a few notes, the ingredients, and the art is to turn them into a delicious symphony.
I prefer Mediterranean and traditional Balkan cuisines, which will make your mouth water with their brilliant mix of fresh vegetables, fruit and fish. Angelato chocolate sorbets do the same and much more.
I’m in love with literature and photography, art and design, anything related to creative and personal expression. Eating is a very personal thing. Cook with love. Find food that loves you, and love it back.
In the picture is one of my favorite ice creams, which is very popular: visitors come back for it again and again. It is ice cream with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and nuts. Be sure to try it!
