The times ahead are challenging for everyone. Hospitality businesses have, for the most part, been left without work, employees are mostly staying at home, and everyone is doing their best to manage the situation. In every crisis, however, new challenges and opportunities need to be found.
Iztok Gumzej, the initiator behind Chefs Care, found just such an opportunity. During the nationwide lockdown and restrictions, he came up with the idea of using food supplies from his own home to prepare delicious meals for the healthcare workers at the health centre in Hrastnik.
At Kaza Sistemi, we immediately stepped in to help by donating professional catering equipment and utensils. We have been working with Iztok for quite some time and believed in his project. We believed that we, too, could contribute a small part to this story. And we did!
While some of us can help others simply by staying at home, chefs joined forces to support those working on the front lines. The Chefs Care initiative, as Iztok named it, quickly took on a life of its own.
Nominations, passed from one chef to another like a relay baton, spread across Slovenia. Through the nominations and cooking initiatives, we have seen – and will continue to see – many renowned names from Slovenia’s top culinary scene: Branko Podmenik, Marko Pavčnik (PAVUS – Grad Tabor Laško), Miran Ojsteršek (Gostilna Oštirka), Uroš Štefelin (Vila Podvin, restaurant & rooms), as well as chefs and teams from Galerija okusov, Rajski Otok, Gostilna GRIČ by Andrej Smogavc, Gostilna Krpan Šmarje pri Jelšah, Gostilna Rajh, Restavracija in kavarna K5 in Trbovlje, Tri lučke, Restavracija Strelec, Stari pisker – gostilna in pivnica, Atelje Q – kulinarična delavnica, Janez Bratovž from Restavracija JB, Hotel Špica Laško, Špica pizza Celje, Hiša Lisjak, Pri mamici, Restavracija Center Lesce, Turistična Kmetija Arkade Cigoj, Luka Jezeršek from Dvor Jezeršek, Bine Volčič, who distributed meals from his food truck, Ana Roš from Hiša Franko, Gostilna Repovž, Tomaž Kavčič from Gostilna pri Lojzetu – Dvorec Zemono, Restavracija in pizzerija Guliver, Gostilna Podfarovž, and many other chefs, donors, volunteers, delivery drivers and supporters.
Many of the chefs listed above, or their restaurants and kitchens, are also our business partners. There was therefore never any doubt that Kaza Sistemi would step forward and support such a meaningful cause.
