GTCO Food and Drink Festival Day One: A Taste of Passion with Chef Cristian Duhalde
Written By Dedeigbo Samson Ayodeji
Posted By Town Crier News Nigeria
Published By Fitness Network Communications
Day one of the GTCO Food and Drink Festival opened with a burst of flavour and fun as Chef Cristian Duhalde led an exciting Kids Pizza Making Masterclass, delighting the crowd with his infectious passion and rich culinary knowledge. As the Pizzaiolo guided eager young chefs on a journey into the art of pizza making, he invited two or three adult participants and two children from the audience to join him on stage. The hands-on session brought an interactive energy to the event as Chef Duhalde walked the participants through the process of making authentic pizza. “After today’s cooking show, you guys promise me that you would make your own pizza at home,” he said with a warm smile. Explaining the ingredients, he emphasised the simplicity of real pizza dough: “We add the salt to amplify the flavour. We don’t use eggs for pizza, just the flour, yeast.”
Behind the captivating Masterclass is a man whose culinary journey spans continents and decades. “It’s almost 28 years working as a chef,” Chef Duhalde shared in an interview. “I love the passion and I consider myself very lucky to do what I love. This career is mine because I love it.” That love was evident not only in the way he taught the children but also in the way he spoke of his ingredients, the process, and the people he serves. “My motivation is the passion. I love cooking, I love the ingredients. I love serving people and seeing them happy with my food.”
Originally from Chile, Chef Duhalde began his culinary career in 1996 after formal training at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu in Peru and Intectur in Chile. His global experience includes working in kitchens across Latin America, Europe, Oceania, and Africa, and being named Chile’s National Champion of Chefs in 2004. He moved to Nigeria in 2008, bringing his expertise to acclaimed restaurants like Villa Medici and La Scala before launching La Taverna in 2013. Today, La Taverna is a household name in Lagos, loved for its authentic Latin American and Spanish cuisine. His culinary vision has since expanded with notable establishments like Rapa-nui, Citizen, and La Bodega.
Chef Duhalde sees immense value in engaging children early in the culinary arts. “I believe in working with children at a young age because they are the future.” His advice to aspiring chefs is heartfelt and grounded in experience: “Whatever you want to do, do it with love. Especially if you want to be a chef, it’s all about commitment with what you want. You may get tired working with people, but you won’t get tired cooking. Try serving in a restaurant to see what the life of a chef truly is. If you really love what you do, it’s going to be easy.”
He also reflected on how perceptions around pizza have evolved over the years. “When I started with pizza, people were not seeing something right. But now almost every restaurant in Lagos sells pizza.” His approach to cuisine is deeply collaborative. “My unique selling point or artistry in my profession is collaboration. When you mix with different cultures, you learn and imbibe colours and cultures from different families. It is mainly interaction and offering something in return.”
As creative director and owner of La Taverna, Chef Cristian Duhalde has become a key figure in Nigeria’s culinary scene. With his commitment to excellence, love for cultural exchange, and devotion to the next generation, his presence at the GTCO Food and Drink Festival is not just a highlight of the event, it’s an inspiration to food lovers of all ages.
