Sardor Raimov

 Sardor Raimov wanted to become a soldier. He enrolled, but a military career did not work out. On his mother's advice, Sardor went to study as a cook. That is how, at the age of 16–17, he joined Caravan Group — and stayed there for 19 years.

He studied European cuisine at a tourism college, but life took a different turn: he started in the pastry section, and his first dish was manti. Over time he worked his way through every area of the kitchen, going on temporary placements to Russia, Kazakhstan, Germany, and Dubai — including to an exhibition with the head chef. Yet the one country he always came back to was Uzbekistan.

He completed internships at the InterContinental and the Hotel Uzbekistan. Today he is 35 years old, with nearly two decades at one company and a conviction he has never changed: talent matters, but without hard work and love for the craft, not a single recipe will succeed. As Sardor himself says — mother's food always tastes better than restaurant food. Simply because she cooks with her soul.