Since graduating from Les Roches, Gabriela Carvalho has won a number of awards for her culinary expertise. However, her biggest victory yet is her restaurant, Quintana, being voted the best restaurant in Curtiba, Brazil, by national magazine Veja Comer & Beber.
Quintana has been a pioneer in creating self-service restaurants with special detail and care. Gabriela sees the award as recognition for the restaurant’s efforts. “We have been working very hard for over nine years, so this is a result of all the work the team have put in,” she said. “Getting the prize was super special and we’re very grateful. It will bring more people in, as well as raise expectations, so we’ve got more work to do to keep up our reputation.”
Gabriela’s successful career has seen her won a number of awards, including a five-star chef award in 2017. “Awards are good and important for the process, but in the end the best recognition is the everyday feedback from clients and partners,” she said.
In her position, Gabriela has a number of responsibilities. “I strive for new products and producers, and motivate staff to get better use out of those products,” she said. “I apply and reinforce our values to partners and employees, as well as clients and other companies.”
Studying at Les Roches gave Gabriela the core skills she needed to succeed in her career. “It is a great base of learning for many areas of work,” she said. “I learned about culture, and about doing work with detail and quality.” She also keeps in touch with fellow LR alumni. “We have a group of more than 30 alumni around the world, and we are always in contact for personal and professional ideas.”
