Andrey Zaicev Restaurateur Country: Russia

Biography of Andrey Zaitsev

Andrey Zaitsev was born on March 6th in the Saratov region. Despite his current success as a restaurateur in Moscow, his childhood interests lay in a completely different field. In school, he dreamed of becoming a sports coach and soon enrolled in a sports institute. After completing his studies, he moved to Italy where he pursued a career in the fashion industry.

In 1998, Zaitsev opened his first restaurant, "Sinore," which was the first place in Moscow to offer raw langoustines. The restaurant thrived until 2002 when it closed due to technical reasons caused by nearby construction.

In 2003, Zaitsev opened his next establishment, "Noa," which also showcased Italian cuisine. The restaurant's design seamlessly combined eastern and western elements, incorporating Indian motifs and ethnic influences. The venue consisted of two halls: a casual café and an elegant restaurant. "Noa" received awards for its outstanding interior design in 2003 and its exceptional atmosphere in 2009.

In 2005, Zaitsev opened a café called "TV-Gourmet" in the Ostankino Television Center. Three years later, he launched "L'Albero," a highly acclaimed restaurant located at the corner of Delegatskaya and Sadovoe Ring. It received only positive reviews, which is a rare achievement in the restaurant industry. Recently, Zaitsev unveiled a large complex called "Staryi Telegraph" at Tverskaya, 7. This new venture combines an Italian osteria, a French café, a Japanese restaurant with Latin American accents, a bar with unique cocktails, and a karaoke hall. The goal was to create an affordable and entertaining space, which became even more relevant due to the fierce competition in the restaurant business.

While Zaitsev keeps his future plans for new establishments a secret, he may consider opening a business restaurant that will continue to promote Italian cuisine. His love for cooking began in childhood, with his grandmother serving as his first mentor. Together, they always prepared something new, never reheating dishes. During his 12 years in Italy, Zaitsev learned all the secrets of Italian cuisine, which he describes as simple and based on vegetables, garlic, olive oil, and wine. Each region has its own unique culinary features, and Zaitsev managed to surprise even Italians with his cooking skills.

Although he has no intention of opening his own establishment in Italy, Zaitsev enjoys cooking for guests and friends in his restaurants after successful hunting or fishing trips, which have been lifelong passions. When visiting various restaurants in Moscow, Zaitsev evaluates the cuisine and service. Interestingly, while traveling to other countries, he keeps a personal diary of his favorite establishments. He can confidently recommend the most interesting and best restaurants in the Caribbean Islands, South Africa, Hong Kong, and many others.

Furthermore, Zaitsev is interested in promoting Italian cuisine, which he will discuss at the "Pir" exhibition. He believes that the main problem in Russia is the lack of a restaurant-going culture. Moscow may have ten popular restaurants, but there are no tourists coming specifically for the delicious food. Zaitsev's plan is to make his restaurants the best in terms of cuisine, and to achieve this, he believes that he needs to immerse himself in the restaurant and live the experience fully.