JRE-Chef Pasquale Carfora about taste, emotion and tradition
Nine years ago, Pasquale Carfora left the picturesque town of Sabaudia, just south of Rome in southern Italy, to begin his culinary journey in the Netherlands.
A childhood full of flavor
From an early age, food played a central role in his life. He grew up with his parents on his grandparents’ farm in Italy.
“As long as I can remember, food has always been on my mind. For me, it was completely normal to be in contact with food and to experience the kitchen, because my grandmother and my mother always cooked with ingredients from the farm.”
That childhood shaped the foundation of his philosophy: we eat what we produce. Respect for nature and love for pure, local ingredients have always stayed with Pasquale and remain at the heart of his cooking to this day.
Emotion in the kitchen
For Pasquale, being a chef is about more than cooking: it is about creating an experience and evoking emotion.
“For me, it is important as a chef to convey an emotion through my work, a feeling that arises from the art and experience of the dishes. I also want to share my knowledge with guests and let them go home with more insight into Italy. This must go hand in hand with respect for nature and ingredients, which is why I often talk with guests at the table about my philosophy.”
“In my life, knowledge is important: sharing moments and emotions with people. That is why I love being a chef. Leaving behind a memory and a smile, that is what it’s all about for me.”
The Italian kitchen
At his restaurant Aroma, Pasquale takes Italian cuisine to the next level. His dishes combine carefully selected Italian ingredients such as olive oil, Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic vinegar, and wine with products from his own vegetable garden. In doing so, he connects his Italian roots with Dutch soil.
His inspiration comes from the desire to enrich the traditional cuisine of his homeland with a modern twist. Flavors and colors come together in dishes that are both refined in taste and beautifully presented.
Aroma is therefore a unique experience in the Netherlands: a place where guests can enjoy Italian cuisine on a higher level. Not only to taste, but also to learn more about Italy, its traditions, and its rich flavors.
