ONBOARD talks to Milan Popovic about life as a superyacht chef.
What is your favourite dish to cook?
Well, my favourite dish to cook is something from Mediterranean cuisine..
Especially fish, some fresh sea products(shrimps, octopus..), and in addition to that other types of ingredients that can be found in the same cuisine.
What/where is your favourite restaurant?
I was in many restaurants around the world, but my favourite is ‘Ceto’, in Monte Carlo.
If you are not the chef, what would you be doing?
Interesting question..When I think about it, I would say for sure that I would be spearfishing diver because there is no limit of my love for the sea, which you can see in the way that I make food and work. Everything from the sea is my favourite thing, so only natural would be spearfishing and similar things.
What is your favourite kitchen gadget?
Knives!
The most important and favourite thing from kitchen are knives.
I think that you are as good chef as good as your knives are.
What is your favourite type of food?
Well, because I like to experiment with food very much, there is no single meal or something that I like the most.
Some combinations with fish, olive oil, and other mediterranean ingredients for me are most tasteful, so I prefer those options.
What three factors do you look in food?
My answer would be the holy trinity of cuisine.
And those are flavour, aroma and visual presentation.
Everything need to be perfect.
Where do you think is the best city in the world for food?
Ahaha, this one is very difficult to answer.
I can’t tell you exactly one place on earth, because every city gives you something unique and special.
But, by my personal likings it would be Italy and Greece.
Every place there is special.
What is the one ingredient everyone needs in their galley?
Only one ingredient is enough.
And that is LOVE.
What was the last meal you cooked for yourself because you really wanted to eat it?
Ohh, I remember it very well.
After one long and very hard day, I made myself ‘pasta di vongole’.
It is perfect combination of flavours and spices.
I would recommend you to try it, you’ll be amazed.
What is your most memorable food moment?
For sure, the first time when I had contact with kitchen and meal preparations.
As very young boy, in that exact moment, I’ve known that I want to be proffesional chef.
And now, my dream come true!
Where is your favourite local market for fresh produce?
I’m a yacht chef, so my work place isn’t on one location.
But, wherever I go, I always make sure to buy products from local shops and people who are organic producers.
Those ingredients are perfect in every aspect.
And when you combine perfect products with perfect cooking, then you are not making a meal, but an art.
Who is your favourite provisioner and why?
Very simple question.
VYS global superyacht supplier.
They are very professional, quick, and always make sure the things that you wanted are best quality.
What do you like to do when you have time off?
In my time off, I like to focus myself on exercise, running, and gaining new knowledges.
From time to time, depends on If I’m home or in other countries, I like to explore new places and nature.
Most overrated ingredient?
From all ingredients, for me, caviar is most overrated.
I don’t have any comments on that one.
Go to snack?
Any kind of interesting street food.
It’s not very healthy but I like it because there I can find some great flavour combination that I don’t use in my meals.
Most outrageous guest request?
Well, I got plenty of crazy requests, but I prefer not to talk about them.
It is the chef etiquette to keep everything from the kitchen in the kitchen. 😉
If you could cook for anyone, who and why?
Hmm, maybe for one exceptional Italian chef, Massimo Bottura.
I would like to see what he has to tell about my cuisine, to get some tips, or some critique which would make me better chef than I’m right now.
Follow Milan here on Instagram: www.instagram.com/principe_del.mare/
