Who: Lorenzo Harper
What: Senior Chef
Where: Hotel Torarica
1. Where did you learn how to cook?
2. How many years have you been cooking?
3. With which ingredient do you prefer to work with?
4. What is your favorite dish to prepare and why?
5. What is your favorite dish to eat?
6. What do you think of our Surinamese cuisine?
7. What could be better?
8. Is there a platform for chefs needed?
9. Do you think the Surinamese cuisine is evolving?
10. What direction should we go with the Surinamese cuisine/kitchen?
I learned how to cook at home, as most of the people I know have. I love to cook. As a little boy, I always joined my mother in the kitchen. After secondary school I went to the horeca school (neiverheid) and now I am at the Suriname Hospitaly and Tourism College.
I have been in the culinary industry for almost 5 years now. I have worked at the Courtyard by Marriott and now I am working at Hotel Torarica as senior cook for 4 years already. Suriname herbs are the greatest to work with and products of the Amazone. They give a good taste, it is healty and naturaly fresh.
One of my favorite, and speciality, dishes is cookup rice (moksi alesi).
I think the Surinamese cuisine is a great cuisine. It is a multi cultural cuisine with many flavors and colors in the food.
The Surinamese cuisine can be better. If we want to place our food on the world map, we have to be more openmindend and think of combining and make nice products. The traditions do not need to be forgotten, because it starts right there. We have to modernize our dishes. I can see that the Surinamese cuisine as one of the best cuisine in the world in a few years!
I have faith. It would be good if there is a platform for chef in Suriname. Were you can get information, support, practical guidance for the novice cook. Maybe there can be more schools for those who are interested and love the job as I do.
Let Suriname grow with all that is culinary and be on top!
We have the guts and we can do more!
