q&a with chef andrea & esteban
Meet Chef Andrea and Chef Esteban from Colombian themed supper club Don Bueno.
“Don,” meaning “Mr.” in Latin American culture, embodies respect and honor. And “Bueno,” which translates to “good or kind,” represents not only a word but also a common last name in Latin America. Together, “Don Bueno” encapsulates their vision of a joyful place—a table where friends and family come together, indulging in delectable food and creating cherished memories.
Q1: Tell us a little bit about yourselves and how did you two meet?
Andrea: I'm from Peru, and Esteban is from Colombia. We both studied at Le Cordon Bleu, but we didn't meet there. Later, when I was working as a CDP at Astrid & Gaston in Lima, Esteban joined as a pastry intern. We spent a lot of time together and often ended up eating late after our shifts, which helped us get to know each other better. Eventually, we started dating, and that's how it all began. We worked there for almost 2 years and then moved to Dubai. We returned to Peru in 2018 to get married and settled in Dubai.
Q2: What was your first job in the food industry?
Andrea: During college holidays, I used to work as a busser in a ski resort restaurant in Crested Butte, Colorado. That's when I realized that I loved being in the back of the house (BOH) more than the front of the house (FOH).
Q3: What’s your go-to comfort food when you're both relaxing at home and not entertaining?
We're guilty of ordering food online way too much! Generally, our favorites are places like Din Tai Fung or Maru, anything Asian. When we cook at home, it's usually breakfast or a nice steak.
Q4: How is your relationship with food different from your grandparents’/ancestors’ times?
Andrea: In the past, families were larger; my grandma had 4 kids by my age. She used to tell me that she had to cook 2 different sets of meals for lunch and dinner. My grandpa always brought home friends, so she had to prepare extra portions. Nowadays, the pace of life is so much quicker, making it difficult to enjoy a home-cooked meal while sitting down. Home-cooked meals are a luxury today. That's why Esteban and I always say the table is our happy place – it's usually where you share moments with friends and family.
Q4: What is the most exotic or unusual dish you have ever tried, and how did it taste?
Andrea: I would say Chapulines (crickets). They were crunchy, nutty, spicy, with a hint of acidity. Overall, they were great; even though I thought I wouldn't like them, they weren't bad at all.
Q5: If you were to die tomorrow, what would your last meal be?
Esteban: Arepita, quesito, hot chocolate.
Andrea: I would definitely have dessert – milhojas de fresas (strawberry mille-feuille).
Q6: Given the age of YouTube and apps, do you think print cookbooks are obsolete?
Esteban: No way! There's nothing like the feeling of opening a new cookbook, flipping through the pages, and trying out the recipes. I remember spending hours at Kinokuniya just checking out the books. Although we didn't plan to stay in Dubai for so long, we ended up staying 7 years and buying all the books.
Q7: What’s your favorite thing to do when you're not at work? Do you have any hobbies?
Esteban: We've been working a lot lately, but I do have two hobbies: my plants and pottery. I would love to have more time to create my own plates for the supper club. As for my plants, I enjoy watching them grow and multiply, but they're definitely a full-time job – not just watering, but also changing the soil and overall care.