In Search of Flavor

Episode 07: On Cooking with Simplicity, Joy, and Feeling with Lucia Soria

Episode Summary

In this episode, Lucia Soria, chef, restaurateur, author, and Uruguayan Masterchef judge, joins Liz to discuss her food and who she is as a cook. Lucia, born and raised in Argentina, launched her culinary career with chef Francis Mallmann, eventually landing in coastal Uruguay and later in the capital of Montevideo to forge her own path. Lucia’s cooking style always produces a “feel-good” state. She uses simplicity, fresh produce, layers of flavor, and texture to create recipes and dishes with a sense of seasonality, generosity, and homey-ness. She’s also pushing the envelope in her vision of Uruguayan cuisine as she fosters moving away from the meat-centric traditions to championing plant- and sea-based offerings at her current restaurants Jacinto and Pizza Rosa in Montevideo.

Episode Notes

In this episode we talk about:

• Lucia’s roots in appreciating food and cooking
• The foundations of her culinary career with Argentine celebrity chef Francis Mallman
• Lucia’s path as a chef and restaurateur in Uruguay
• Her flavorful, elemental, produce-driven cooking style 
• How her food philosophy and approach in her Montevideo restaurants tie into the larger Uruguayan, and South American, food scene
• Lucia’s other pursuits as being a judge on Masterchef and cookbook author

Resources:

Lucia Soria Instagram

Jacinto Restaurant website

Jacinto Restaurant IG

Pizza Rosa IG

Pizza Rosa website

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