Oka - Fogo, Raphael Rego's dream restaurant
Among the notable new restaurants at the start of 2024, that of chef Raphael Rego has made its mark with a double opening: Oka and Fogo.
Juggling two establishments is exciting, but it was only for a short time for Raphael Rego. The Brazilian chef has found a dream location in Paris where he can bring together his two restaurants, Oka and Fogo.
One address, two worlds
Ten years ago, Raphael Rego opened a first version of Oka ("house" in Tupi-Guarani, an Amerindian language) in the 9ᵉ arrondissement of Paris. In 2017, Gault&Millau named him Jeune Talent before awarding him the Dotation Jeunes Talents which enabled him to open Oka, a second version, 20 covers, topped very quickly with 3 toques. At the same time, Fogo (Portuguese for fire) was born, a table guided by the embers of the fire.
As the years went by, the chef saw " a real desire to have a unique place where people could see the two ways " in which he and his teams cook.
It's at 8 rue Meissonier in Paris's 17ᵉ arrondissement that the project takes shape. "On the one hand, more than a restaurant, more than a bistro, a place to live. The kind of table where I like to go and eat with family or friends ": Fogo, on the other Oka. With the latter, the chef aims to showcase his talent. " I don't want people to come to the restaurant to have an Oka experience, but rather an experience with me, so they can understand who I am."
Fogo cooking, "is really about controlling the ember in its state. This method of cooking requires a lot of care, because you won't be able to cook a fresh carrot in the same way as one that's already three days old. "
The chef's greatest source of pride in this project? " Being able to be physically present in both places at the same time, and with his teams too. There are no distinctions: you work at the gastro, you work at the bistro. Everyone evolves.
- Oka, 16 covers, 4 courses, evening only, Tuesday to Friday.
- Fogo, 30 covers, Monday to Saturday, lunch and dinner.
