Miroslav Voňka is a Czech chef who has built his career on his passion for food, influenced by family tradition and the film Casino with Robert De Niro. After experience in Czech and foreign restaurants, including Jamie Oliver's, he decided to return to Hradec Kralove and start his own restaurant. With deep commitment and attention to detail, he emphasizes an authentic experience that makes his guests' day better.
Personal life and career beginnings
Miroslav Voňka, a Czech chef, was born and raised in a cooking environment. He comes from a family where food has always been given great importance - his grandmother owned a pub, which inspired him. Although he originally wanted to be a hotelier, his career direction changed after seeing the movie Casino with Robert De Niro, which awakened his passion for gastronomy.
Gastronomic beginnings and professional growth
He gained his first experience in Hradec Králové, where he joined a hotel establishment that provided him with basic skills and experience. Subsequently, he was given the opportunity to work with renowned chef Richard Luc in taking over the Finestra restaurant. This contact motivated him to develop further and led to spending a period of time at Aronia, where he specialised in grill work.
The next major step in his career was moving to Australia, where he worked at the restaurant of famous British chef Jamie Oliver. During the pre-Christmas season, he experienced the hectic pace and huge footfall of the establishment, giving him valuable experience in restaurant management and kitchen management in challenging conditions.
On his return to the Czech Republic, he accepted a position at the prestigious Dinner by Heston restaurant Blumenthal, but dissatisfaction with the job and a desire for greater independence led to his decision to leave and start his own restaurant in Hradec Králové.
A view of gastronomy and working attitude
Voňka believes that working in gastronomy requires a deep commitment and will, which cannot be replaced by money or formal education. For him, a restaurant is not only a place where he provides food to guests, but also a community center where friendships are formed between the team and customers. He strives to provide a personal and authentic approach, building relationships with guests and creating an atmosphere of mutual trust.
In his personal life, he now focuses on balancing work and family. Even when his demanding work schedule takes up a lot of his time, he tries to be not only physically but also mentally present at home for his loved ones.
Philosophy and vision
For Miroslav Voňka, gastronomy is not only a job, but a way to make someone's day better. He believes that success in this field depends on a sincere effort to give people a positive experience. This inner sense of fulfillment and need to help others, he says, are key to work that is meaningful and long-lasting.
Source: TV Nova s.r.o.
