Where do chefs eat? With Thomas Troisgros, in Rio de Janeiro

The vocation runs in the family: Thomas Troisgrois He is part of the fourth generation of chefs whose last name is their passion for cooking. Growing up around pots, he closely followed the work of his grandfather, Pierre, one of the creators of Nouvelle Cuisine; from his uncle, Michel, chef at the three-star Maison Troisgros; and his father, Claude Troisgros which needs no introduction.

Thomas decided to venture into the kitchen early and moved to the United States at age 19 to graduate from the Culinary Institute of America, working alongside Daniel Boulud and then spending time in Spanish restaurants Mugaritz It is Arzak . After a decade, his father called him back to Brazil to take over the 66 Bistro and, later, to command the Olympe .

The chef also became a restaurateur and today leads the restaurant's operations. Le Blond It's from CT Boucherie . He is also a member of the group TT Burger which, in addition to operating as a hamburger restaurant, also runs the brands Three Gordos , Marola Sandwicheria It is Tom Ticken .

In Rio, the chef is in charge of the Toto It's from Oseille , both in the same mansion in Ipanema. While the first works as a “neobristro” where it applies French techniques with Asian influences, the second is more intimate and reserved, open for dinner with a tasting menu of five to seven courses.

Away from the kitchen and his business, Thomas Troisgros also tries other bites around the Marvelous City and shares below his favorite addresses for good food in Rio.

Where to eat in Rio de Janeiro, according to Thomas Troisgros:

• Lasai

I'm a fan of the chef's original work Rafael Costa e Silva and I really like the way he masterfully uses ingredients from the garden. Most of the inputs he uses come from his own gardens, which are located in Itanhangá and Vale das Videiras, being the basis for inspiration and changes to the menu.

It is worth mentioning that the restaurant only serves a tasting menu and is located in an old Rio house with a welcoming atmosphere.

Lasai: Largo dos Leões 35 – Humaitá, Rio de Janeiro – RJ / Tel.: (21) 3449-1834 or (21) 3449-1854 / Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, only at 8pm; Saturday, 7pm and 10pm / Dinners only upon request reservations.

• Babbo Osteria

Babbo Osteria is the chef’s “everyday” restaurant Elia Schramm in the middle of Rua Barão da Torre, in Ipanema. I really like the restaurant because the chef delivers very tasty and delicious food without many inventions.

Dishes with an Italian accent range from creamy polenta with meat ragu cooked in red wine to open shrimp ravioli with textures of pumpkin, fonduta, black garlic and crunchy almonds.

Babbo Osteria: Rua Barão da Torre, 632 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ / Tel.: (21) 99808-6496 (WhatsApp) / Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday, from 12pm to 4pm and from 7pm to 11pm; Thursday to Saturday, from 12pm to 4pm and from 7pm to midnight; Sunday, from 12pm to 6pm.

• Malta Beef Club

For me, the Malta Beef Club serves the best rib in the entire South Zone of Rio. The house rib is the front rib, which is at the tip of the breast and has a cut with thinner bone and a high degree of marbling.

In addition, the house is known for its dry aged meats, which are made to perfection. Malta has two units: in Leblon and in Jardim Botânico.

Malta Beef Club: (Leblon Unit) Avenida Gen. San Martin, 359 – Leblon, Rio de Janeiro – RJ / (Jardim Botanical Unit) Rua Saturnino de Brito, 84 – Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro – RJ / Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 12pm to 11pm; Sunday, from 12pm to 7pm.

• Pure Ember

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With three units in the South Zone, Pura Brasa is where I go to eat the grilled boneless chicken, which arrives at the table with super crispy skin.

To complete the meal, I like to order the broccoli rice and egg farofa together. The restaurant also has a series of typical pub starters, as well as a selection of meats, sandwiches, individual dishes and cold draft beer.

Pure Ember: units in Ipanema, Botafogo and Copacabana. See addresses and opening hours on the profile Instagram.

• Si-chou Asian

As I like to eat good sushi, Si-chou ends up being an address I frequent to enjoy Asian dishes very well thought out by the chefs. Elia Schramm It is Menandro Rodrigues from Haru Sushi.

Also on Barão da Torre street, the same as Babbo Osteria, the restaurant serves a no-frills menu based on Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. The sushi comes in pairs and can be classic, like tuna and salmon, or even special, like scallop with clarified butter and fleur de sel.

Si-chou Asian: Rua Barão da Torre, 472 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ / Tel.: (21) 99867-5933 (WhatsApp) / Opening hours: Monday, from 7pm to 11pm; Tuesday and Wednesday, from 12pm to 4pm and from 7pm to 11pm; Thursday and Friday, from 12pm to 4pm and from 7pm to midnight; Saturday, from 12pm to midnight; Sunday, from 12pm to 10pm.