Artur VatutinCommunity profile

"The most important thing I learned there was the value of hard work. I seized every opportunity. Of course, money is a powerful motivator, but in my case, it was more of a pleasant bonus. I was simply driven by a desire to cook and learn new things. I learned the basics there, and how to listen to and learn from my colleagues."

After a year working in a kitchen in Volgograd, Arthur, driven by a desire to develop his skills, moved to St. Petersburg, where he joined Feromon Cafe on Piaty Uglok. Arthur worked there for just over a year, and then moved to the pan-Asian project Robata Bar, run by Vladimir Khvan and Boris Yugai (Buddha Bar). It was in their kitchen that Arthur first encountered the intricacies of fine dining and the importance of quality service. Later, thanks to Boris Yugai, he went on a training program to France, to the M. Strogoff restaurant – Restaurant Russe Nantes. In this small project focusing on Russian ethnic cuisine, Arthur worked hard, combining the roles of cook and prep cook.

The next important stage in Arthur's culinary career was the Cococo restaurant on Voznesensky Prospekt, where he joined the team led by Chef Igor Grischechkin (at a time when the Matilda Shnurova project was ranked among the best in the world by 120 The World's Best Restaurants). Arthur describes the work in this project as demanding, but a very good learning experience, and he fondly remembers that time.

After working in a few more restaurants in St. Petersburg, Arthur joined the bar "Architect". The two years he spent in this project helped him develop skills such as communication, the ability to overcome awkwardness when interacting with guests, and the ability to present his food. It was at "Architect" that Arthur met the bar manager, Mikhail Kuzmin, and they now work together at the cocktail bar Ola Bar.

Now, at Ola, Arthur continues to create a unique culinary style, not adhering to any specific direction, experimenting with flavor combinations, and most importantly, expressing his love for his work.