Sergey Cutenco

Real fun for me means lively music, bright colours of the autumn garden and loud talks! That’s the way I remember from my very childhood, and that’s the way I treat my guests. My name is Sergey Kutenko, I’m chef and consultant of “Old Bus gasrto pub” restaurant in Chisinau.

I was born and raised in a friendly and united family, with a tiny kitchen, with steamy windows, appetizing savours, I could smell even from the outside yard and with my mom who inspired my for that bright culinary future.   I’m really proud of my parents, who not just “raised” me. They showed the world to me.  I was travelling with them as a child, we visited cafes and restaurants that was quite unusual for that time.   I was amazed by each movement of the chef and my inner desire to master this art was growing.

Thus it was not difficult for me to choose a right profession.  Straight after the secondary school I entered a culinary college to master basic culinary skills. Have I faced any difficulties?  For sure I have. Have I got everything I wanted? Not really! And all this together motivated me to continue my studies, to improve my skills on and on. I fearlessly undertook most difficult tasks that seemed almost impossible.  To clean two baths of live fish – easily! To get into a “hot shop” in a foreign country and town only within 3 days – easily!   I’m still so young, but I already have enough stories about my work to share, my work that is different, hard, exciting and always interesting.

Experience always has background, it’s always unique and dynamic. Of course I follow culinary trends, “fashion”, always master and try new things and then share it with my team.  That’s the only way to be a real chef as I see it.  I do respect culinary traditions of other nations, so I try to cook dishes of each cuisine.  My favourite cuisine is European, but with home-made hints, you know as it were cooked a loving mom.  I like Asian cuisine that is spicy and rich.  I’m crazy about combinations of hot and sweet flavours, bright colours and tempting odors.

It’s hardly possible to speak just in a few words about my path of studies, development and mistakes, about sparkling eyes of my daughter when we meet, about noisy parties with old friends at my summer house.    All these things are my life and I really glad to share it partially with guests of the restaurant in the form of dishes I cook for them.

By the way, about dishes. I’ve cooked for you peppers stuffed with Moldovan cabbage rolls and Milina.  These are the culinary symbols of my country. They are served at any holiday and party in Moldova!