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Faycal Bettioui is a Casablanca native, whose passion for cooking made him one of the few Michelin-starred Moroccan chefs. Living currently in Germany, the 36-year-old chef and restaurant owner embraced his love for food when he was on the other side of the world.
«My culinary interests started when I was 14, as I grew up in a family of foodies», Faycal told Yabiladi. But his cooking skills were taken to another level when he moved to the United States to study. In 2001 and after graduating high school, the young man left Casablanca for Florida.
«I enrolled in college in the same year with a major in computer science», recalled Faycal, who ended up switching fields of study after a few semesters. The Moroccan student then started a biology/premed major with the «intention of going to medical school».
Learning from the best
But while in college, Faycal was put in the right circumstances that made him discover his cooking aptitudes. «I had to work in different restaurants to pay for my school tuition and living expenses», remembered Faycal, stressing that it was at that moment that his passion for «cooking reignited».
«After graduating university, I decided not to go to medical school and I took my passion seriously», the Moroccan chef declared. Since then, Faycal Bettioui embarked on a mission to better his skills and learn the ins and outs of being a chef.
«I worked in many restaurants in Miami and New York City, including Per Se (3 Michelin stars)», he told Yabiladi, adding that during this period he «tried to learn and absorb as much as [he] could».
The Moroccan national also worked in the service to gain the necessary experience in the cooking industry. After a fruitful experience in the United States, Faycal and his wife decided to «move closer to family after having a child».
A Michelin starred chef in Neupotz
«The choice was between Casablanca and Germany», said Faycal, who ended up opting for Neupotz, a municipality in the district of Germersheim (Germany), where he opened his restaurant. The latter called Zur Krone, and which opened its doors in 2015, has managed to make it to the Michelin guide for 2019, on February the 28th.
«I was very honored and happy to be among the few» Moroccans to get a Michelin star, said Faycal, who describes his cooking style as «product-driven».
«I am trained in French classics (…) but my Moroccan roots and travels have a big influence on my cooking», the young Moroccan chef explained.
Recalling childhood memories of his hometown, Faycal referred to his summers in Dar Bouazza with family, the food and the smell of the sea. «I don’t come often to Morocco as my job requires a lot of time but I have it in my heart and thoughts», the starred chef concluded.
