Giovani story

“Good cheese in dog skin” is a Romanian saying describing people who have high potential but do not use it. However, for most young people growing up in Romania's most underdeveloped region, this is not a matter of choice but luck. Finding a mentor or a role model can make all the difference between living a decent and fulfilling life in the country and a constant struggle for survival.

This exclusive Romania Insider article puts the spotlight on the life stories of two young men from North-Eastern Romania. One of them left the country at a tender age to find his vocation as a cook and later a chef in Italy, under the mentorship of a Tuscan restaurant owner. He then came back to Romania to open a Mediterranean restaurant in his hometown, where he became a mentor and role model for a young man who may not have to leave the country to find his meaning.