Lika Mardaleyshvili

Lika Mardaleyshvili grew up in Georgia, where the cuisine is not just a hobby, but a love language. Her grandmother, who treated cooking like an order and a ritual, was cooking khvezeli for Christmas - one for each family member. It was in her kitchen where small Lika prepared mchads for the first time, when she was still in the fourth grade. 

By education, Lika is a doctor, and she worked as an infectionist in Georgia. After Abhazian war her family moved to Moscow. Her friends from the restaurant industry who tried her home cooking insisted: Lika, you have to try it. Finally, in 2008, she decided and never looked back. 

Her first steps were made in a small cafe "Khachapuri", where Nani gave her a new perspective on cooking and passed on her experience. Then - "Tolma" restaurant with azerbaijani, armenian and georgian cuisines, where chef Rais took her under his wing and taught her everything that he knew himself. Two years in "Tolma", and then - Ginza Project, one of the most powerful restaurant holding in Russia. 
Today, Lika is georgian-oriented brand chef in the international Tigrus holding. Her team has been working with her for over ten years. She says that she has never made a mistake when choosing people - because she chooses with her heart.