Mauro Santarelli: Executive Chef, Chupacabras & Arriba

Mauro Santarelli: Executive Chef, Chupacabras & Arriba

Mauro Santarelli is a figure who brings the taste of Argentina to the world, including Indonesia. His culinary journey began in his childhood home in Argentina, where the aroma of home cooking filled the air and food was the center of family togetherness. From there his love for culinary grew, which eventually brought him to the land of Bali, Indonesia.

Mauro began his education in agronomy, specifically farming and animal husbandry. He even joined his father in managing 800 cows in his homeland. It was here that he learned that the quality of meat begins long before it reaches the kitchen—a lesson that became the foundation of his culinary philosophy.

In 2008, Mauro decided to pursue his culinary dreams by moving to Barcelona, Spain. There, he began his career as a sous chef at Cal' Andreo, a Catalan restaurant, before eventually becoming chef de cuisine at Petit Apolo, a renowned Spanish tapas restaurant.

In 2012, Mauro opened his first restaurant,  Es Reco des Moll , in Mallorca, Spain. The seasonal restaurant quickly became famous for its tapas dishes and fresh seafood sourced directly from local fishermen. After four successful years, he continued his journey as Chef de Cuisine at  the Park Hyatt Mallorca  in 2016.

In 2018, Mauro arrived in Indonesia as Executive Sous Chef at  the Grand Hyatt Jakarta . Here, he began experimenting with combining local spices with his South American culinary roots. This experimentation culminated when he moved to Bali in 2020 to become Head Chef at  La Favela , one of the most iconic dining establishments on the island of the gods.

2021 brought Mauro to Abu Dhabi as Chef de Cuisine at  Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi . There, he created the concept for  Maté , an Argentinian restaurant that won  Best Newcomer Restaurant  and  Most Recommended Latin Restaurant  at the What's On Abu Dhabi Awards. In 2022, he moved to Dubai to lead the kitchen at  Andaz the Palm .

Back to Indonesia: Chupacabras and Arriba

Now, Mauro Santarelli returns to Indonesia as Executive Chef at  Chupacabras  and  Arriba . Here, he brings a South American grill experience with a modern twist and Indonesian spices. His signature style involves open-fire cooking techniques on the grill, using high-quality ingredients to highlight the natural textures and distinctive smoky flavors.

Mauro’s culinary inspiration comes from his love of food and his desire to explore different flavors. Each destination he visits gives him new insights, enriches his culinary palette and drives him to continue innovating. For Mauro, cooking is not just about taste, but also about the stories and experiences shared through each dish.

With rich international experience and dedication to quality, Mauro Santarelli continues to present unforgettable culinary experiences for food lovers around the world, including in Indonesia.

This article was published on goodshot.id