Most people can only dream of traveling around the world, eating their way from country to country and town to town. Yet for Andre Dicorato, aka 'Chef on a Journey,' this is his life—and he's living it up on the road, one meal at a time.
Andre’s Instagram, @chef.on.a.journey, showcases his gastronomically charmed life. Thousands of inspired fans follow Andre and his girlfriend around the world, discovering his creative and inspired recipes, culinary skills, and the local culture and cuisine of each destination.
From Melbourne, Australia, to Dubai, Italy, and France, Andre never stops pursuing and embracing the unknown. The downside of living as a nomadic foodie means Andre must consistently leave behind recently discovered jobs, restaurants, and newly made friends, yet he takes this in stride.
“I simply love to seek new experiences and discomfort,” Andre confesses.
“I am here on this planet to learn, grow, and remember that I am part of something much bigger than myself. I want to be a positive influence in this world and inspire everyone to not settle for anything less than what they truly want.”
His journey down the culinary path began as a child growing up in Bologna, Italy. As he matured, his appetite for a deeper meaning in life grew; and as his spirituality developed, so did his passion for combining food with wellness.
“I have been passionate about food for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I always loved trying new dishes, and the best nights for me were the few times my parents took me to restaurants,” said Andre.
“As a teenager, I wasn’t really connected with myself. To be honest, I was pretty much a ‘lost soul’," he said.
"Growing up, I started experiencing all the symptoms of a poor lifestyle, so I began to slow down. However, it was only when COVID happened that I truly ‘awakened.’ A close friend suffered badly from depression, and in trying to help her, I had to analyze and work on my own mental health too. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise."
So, how did he get his start as a traveling influencer chef?
“My love for cooking developed after a few months of working in the kitchen. I found a job at a pub restaurant in London and really got into it.
“My first job in London was about seven or eight years ago. The management hired an executive chef to raise the restaurant's standards. This chef was Tim Yates, the Head Chef of Scully at St. James. He taught me all the basics of cooking and made me fall in love with it. Tim made me believe in myself and my skills, and I will always be grateful for his guidance. Now we are friends. I also did three years of culinary school but never actually finished it!” he said.
Yet Andre's true passion lies in combining food with health as a medicinal measure. Whether he’s introducing his audience to the benefits of stinging nettle on his recent trip to the Dolomites in Italy or showing how to dress up raw fava beans with grated ginger, lemon zest, olive oil, and salt, his recipes are not only artistically unique, heartfelt, and deliciously insightful but also meatless and bursting with healing properties.
“As good healthy food options are becoming less and less available to the average human being, there are more and more bad cheap ones,” he muses.
“As good healthy food options become less and less available to the average person, there are more and more cheap, unhealthy ones,” he muses. “I just want to show people what I’ve learned over the years in the kitchen to inspire them to take better care of their bodies. Convenience often doesn’t mean healthy. I want to let people know that getting junk food for lunch or cheap takeaways for dinner is not the only choice.”
"You have to start making yourself and your health a priority. This includes understanding what you feel during and after eating certain foods. Notice the differences between when you're exercising and when you're staying indoors all day watching Netflix, being meditative, or comparing yourself to others. All the answers are inside. My ultimate goal is to awaken humanity within people through food."
For Andre, a positive mindset is the essential ingredient in the recipe for living a fabulous life.
"If you're reading this today, remember that you're still alive. So many people didn't wake up this morning, but here you are! Don't ever take your life for granted; enjoy your time here!"
As for where he sees himself in the future, Andre is more of a live-in-the-moment kind of guy.
"I have a few long-term goals, but they all revolve around making a positive impact in this world and enjoying my life to the fullest."
Buon appetito!
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