Alberto Landgraf, a Brazilian chef of German and Japanese descent, has revolutionized Rio de Janeiro's dining scene with his two-Michelin-starred restaurant Oteque. His cuisine combines technical precision, simplicity, and local ingredients, reflecting a balance between his cultural roots and culinary innovation.
Born in Cornélio Procópio, in the state of Paraná, Alberto Landgraf grew up in a family of German and Japanese descent. Initially interested in physics, he moved to London in the early 2000s to study English. During his stay, he began working in the kitchen to support himself, discovering a passion that led him to collaborate with renowned chefs such as Tom Aikens and Gordon Ramsay.
He returned to Brazil in 2006 and opened his first restaurant, Epice, in São Paulo in 2008. The restaurant quickly won accolades, including a Michelin star, and was named a “South American rising star” by FOUR magazine. After Epice closed in 2015, Landgraf took a break to reflect on his career and deal with the loss of his mother.
In 2018, he opened Oteque in Rio de Janeiro, a restaurant that reflects his Japanese heritage through simplicity and technical precision rather than ingredients. The restaurant quickly made the list of Latin America's top 50 restaurants and received two Michelin stars.
Landgraf's culinary philosophy is based on the use of high-quality Brazilian ingredients, processed with modern and traditional techniques to bring out their natural flavors. His approach reflects a balance between Japanese minimalist aesthetics and the richness of Brazilian culture.
