Daniel Chavez: contemporary Latin gastronomy of Asia
- Peruvian chef based in Singapore
- Chef owner of CANCHITA Peruvian restaurant
- Former chef OLA, TONO, and TONITO
More casual chefs here. Other Peruvian Chefs here. More Singaporean Chefs here.
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For over 20 years, Peruvian Chef Daniel Chavez’s career has taken him to several
countries and some of the finest F&B establishments in the world.
When his family moved to United States, Daniel enrolled in the Florida Culinary Institute
and applied for a scholarship for a master’s programme in culinary arts in Valencia, Spain
after graduation. There, he apprenticed at the one Michelin-starred La Sucursal and was
exposed to fine dining techniques and Mediterranean culture.
His desire to widen his repertoire led him to traverse across continents; from Barcelona
where he joined the now-defunct Can Fabes, a three Michelin-starred restaurant helmed
by the late culinary icon Santi Santamaria, to Singapore where he learned classic French
cooking techniques from Chef Gunther Hubrechsen in Les Amis restaurant.
He then reunited with Chef Santi as the Chef de Cuisine of Ossiano at “Atlantis” The Palm
Hotel in Dubai, and later as Chef de Cuisine of Santi at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in
Singapore.
Following the passing of Chef Santi, Daniel went on to open OLA Cocina Del Mar, a
Spanish restaurant and the first of his personal projects in 2012. OLA was awarded a
Michelin Plate for three consecutive years since 2017.
Making it his mission to showcase Latin America’s culinary diversity with the local
community, in 2017 Daniel launched TONO Cevicheria, the first Peruvian Cevicheria in
Singapore, and TONITO Latin American Kitchen in 2018, the first Latin American family
concept in Singapore.
He also founded LATINADA, Singapore’s first Latin American Food Festival, in 2018. The
second edition of the festival, held the following year, brought together over 3000
attendees.
Having exited OLA, TONO, and TONITO; in 2021 Daniel founded CANCHITA Peruvian
Cuisine with the purpose to focus all his energy on promoting the Latino culture through
Asia. In less than a year since its inception, CANCHITA Peruvian Cuisine has quickly became a
culinary destination and reference in the eclectic dining scene of Singapore, gaining a
well-earned reputation between the group of foodies in the city who is constantly looking
for new gastronomic experiences.
As proud ambassadors of Latin American gastronomy in Asia, he devotes his time to work
with his wife Tamara Chavez and the restaurant team to develop new menus and
concepts that showcase the culinary diversity of Peru and the continent.
Daniel was awarded the “Global Chef Award” in 2017 by At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy
for his work in inspiring young chefs, as well as Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018 by
Peruvian University San Ignacio de Loyola, a distinction conferred to him by the former
president of Peru, Mr Raul Diez Canseco.
