Michelin chef turns to takeaway to beat the slump

Michelin chef turns to takeaway to beat the slump

Faced with the gloomy prospects for tourism, Michelin-starred chef Rodrigo de la Calle has decided to reinvent himself and is starting a takeaway and delivery service.

Edward Baran reports.

As chef at his Michelin-starred El Invernadero, lockdown has seriously impacted Rodrigo de la Calle.

With restaurant shutters drawn across Madrid since March 14, de la Calle decided to reinvent himself, starting a takeaway and delivery service.

It's not the first time he's run into hardship.

"Unfortunately, or fortunately, I have a lot of experience with these types of (financial) crises, and the advice I give everyone is that the most important thing is to have attitude, initiative, a good smile and to ask for help from whoever can provide it.

The important thing is to do something for society, rather than think that society has to do things for you." His 26 employees are currently furloughed, and he will take care of the whole business by himself, from cleaning vegetables to serving and packing orders.

He's expecting to pack 300 portions between lunch and dinner per day.

And is also waiting for government permission to offer a cooking service in customers' homes.