Taras KirienkoCommunity profile

Taras Kirienko has loved cooking since childhood and believes that cooking and a sense of humor are closely linked. This Riga native moved to Moscow in 2012, where he worked as the head chef at Ragout for two years. Since 2015, he has been the head chef at the wine bar Touche.

The cuisine at Touche is versatile and multi-functional, clear and understandable to everyone, simple yet surprising with its combinations of ingredients and balance of flavors. Taras uses a modern approach to cooking, drawing on knowledge gained from internships and experience working in European restaurants (Mugaritz, Spain, San Sebastian; La Vie, Germany, Osnabrück; Hanner, Austria, Meiring).

He was born in 1982. He graduated from the Riga Culinary School (RTTS Riga). From 2003 to 2006, he worked as a cook at the Shato restaurant in Riga (Jurmala). From 2006 to 2007, he worked as a cook at Mon cafe in Riga. From 2008 to 2009, he was invited as a cook to the Gutenbergs Hotel in Riga. From January to June 2009, he worked as a cook at the Mugaritz restaurant (Spain, San Sebastian). In August 2009, he worked as a guest cook at the La Vie restaurant (Germany, Osnabrück). From the end of August 2009 to February 2010, he worked as a cook at the Hanner restaurant (Austria, Meiring). From March 2010 to December 2010, he served as the head chef at the Gallery Park Hotel (Latvia, Riga). From December 2010 to July 2011, he was the head chef at the Grand Palace Hotel in Riga. In September 2012, he was invited as the head chef to the "Ragout" cafe, and in 2014, he began managing the kitchens of both "Ragout" restaurants. Since April 2014, he has headed the kitchen at the CDL, and in November 2015, he became the head chef at the Touche wine bar. He has participated in various events, giving masterclasses at Gastreet 2018, "Breakfast with the Chef," and PIR Expo.