"Raphael Rego, 34-year-old Brazilian-born owner of Oka, newly crowned with one Michelin star, discovered his passion for cuisine at the age of 18 in Australia, after setting out to study international marketing there. 'When I worked in Australian kitchens, I understood the importance of the rigor, precision and techniques of classic French cuisine,' he says. For him, the message was clear—one can not become a true chef without passing through France—the cradle of gastronomy. After coming to Paris to study haute cuisine at the renowned Ferrandi culinary school, Raphael worked in the kitchens of some of the capital’s great chefs, including Joël Robuchon and Michel Rostang, as well as at the restaurant Le Taillevent, before opening his first restaurant, Oka, in 2014." - Stephanie Curtis
