Episode 18:  Alvaro Clavijo 

Alvaro Clavijo is the chef and founder of El Chato, a Bogotá bistro that has redefined Colombian fine dining. After studying at the Hofmann School in Barcelona, he trained in some of the world’s most renowned kitchens, Noma in Denmark, Joël Robuchon’s Bristol and L’Atelier, and Per Se and Atera in New York, before returning home to open his own place. At El Chato, Clavijo applies global techniques to local ingredients sourced from small producers, creating a menu that’s both rooted and inventive. Since its debut on Latin America’s 50 Best list in 2018, the restaurant has climbed the ranks to become one of the region’s top culinary destinations.

In our conversation, we talked about the evolution of El Chato, his experiences being the son of a helicopter pilot, how he fell in love with cooking, the challenges of running a successful restaurant, the rise in prominence of Colombian cuisine and how he went from dishwasher to top chef. 

¡Thanks, Alvaro, for visiting One of Each!

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One of Each is

Created and hosted by Nidal Barake  

Produced and edited by Adrián Salas  

Executive producers Nidal Barake, Adrián Salas & Oswaldo Graziani  

Content & community by Pedro Graterol  

Production assistance by Katherine Miranda