Stephane Oprea from Escoffier Institute in the Jury for Food Influencers Awards

Stéphane Oprea is the President of the Escoffier Institute in Romania, passionate about gastronomy and entrepreneurship. I invite you to read this interview!

A few words about you and your role in the Institut Escoffier

We have been the Disciples Escoffier Culinary Institute in Romania for three years. We have three sections: kitchen, pastry, sommelier service. In Romania, the gastronomy and table values ​​are very important. That's why we have a lot of success in Romania. We have lessons from Monday to Saturday with three modules: basic, intermediate and advanced. All modules last four months. Our students are between 16 and 50 years old, both professionals and food lovers. We only make Escoffier recipes.
We have a unique partnership in Europe with the second Chefs Club in the world, Martin Berasategui, a Spaniard who has 12 Michelin stars. Our students can take a practical course with Martin Berasategui between three and six months, directly in starred restaurants.
Also, a very important thing for us is that we are accredited by the French Ministry of Education, which is unique in Europe. We have the diplomas of the French Ministry of Education in Romania.

What does the Institut Escoffier teach its students, in practice?

You learn something that you can't find anywhere in the world. There is an Auguste Escoffier Institute at the Ritz in Paris, one in Hong Kong, one in Bucharest. Mr. Auguste Escoffier created a unique technique in the world more than 70, 80 years ago and no one has been able to change this technique. We learn the technique, the cutting, the raw materials and after we let the students express themselves. Students make their own recipes. In each profession, you have to grow through your own values ​​and will.

You are the President, the image of the Institute!

Yes, I am the President and the image, if you want! I am Franco-Romanian; Romania where I was born and France, the country where I grew up and I asserted myself as a professional ice hockey athlete. And, above all, where my three children were born. Either in Romania or France, we promote French gastronomy.

You will be in the Food Influencers Awards Jury. What do you expect from the food influencers who will be present?

I am waiting to see their culture because at the base of all the gastronomy of the world it is the knowledge. For example,  the bases: Auguste Escoffier who made all the sauces. In France, there are 638 starred restaurants, more than half are Escoffier cooks. This technique, unique in the world, allows you to reach the highest level.

What is your projection in this area? How do you see it?

Gastronomy is one of my passions, because in France in Haute Savoie where I live, I had two restaurants and a bar and several businesses. I am passionate about everything I do, the desire to explore new areas of life. I also started the construction of a restaurant in Romania, still in the same building as the Institute, a first Auguste Escoffier star restaurant with the dream of obtaining the first Michelin star, in Romania.

More info on The Escoffier Institute Romania.