Chef Tip

An Interview with Chef Simon Lau Cederholm

A Danish chef in Brasilia

Chef Simon Lau arrived in Brazil for the first time in 1986 and in 2004 opened his own restaurant, Aquavit from his home in Brasilia. The restaurant, and the chef behind it, became a national reference in the use of typical products from the Brazilian cerrado in Brazilian higher gastronomy. He has received several local and national awards among others the 3 stars of Guia 4 Rodas (Michelin equivalent). He was elected Chef of the Year in Brazil by Veja magazine in 2011. Watch our interview with Simon Lau here (part one) and here (part two).

Simon’s approach to Brazilian gastronomy is unique, celebrating local ingredients while at the same time paying homage to his Russian and Danish origins. Currently Simon is writing a new book and working towards founding an institute to protect wild cashew fruit! The Brazilian Cerrado deforestation has been 5 times faster than the Amazon for the last 15 years, and the precious wild cashew is under imminent threat.