Claudio Kihien

Claudio was no stranger to good food as a child.  He was born into a foodie family in Lima, Peru – the Gastronomic Capital of the Americas.  His paternal grandfather was a Chinese chef, his maternal grandfather -- an Argentinian barbeque and cured meat specialist and his mother -- a hotelier and caterer.  As a young child, he grew up watching and helping his grandparents prepare Chinese, Peruvian and Argentinian cuisines.

He moved to Canada in 1993 to study business administration. The lack of Peruvian food establishments in Vancouver prompted him to pursue a career in the food service industry.  He gained valuable experience in Canada by first working at an Italian restaurant and later at the Pan Pacific hotel.

Having been raised in an entrepreneurial family -- his goal was to run his own business-- and he did so when he founded Brasas Peruvian BBQ & Catering.  The company specializes in preparing signature Peruvian dishes and is best known for their Pollo a la Brasa (rotisserie chicken).  Claudio perfected the recipe together with his good friend Pedro while working at Brasas.

In 2007, Brasas was voted number one in the take out chicken food category by the Province newspaper beating 4 other food outlets in Vancouver.  Brasas Peruvian BBQ & Catering was featured in the Georgia Straights, 24 Hours and the Metro newspapers.  Claudio was invited to appear as a guest chef on Citytv - CityCooks last year. 

There is one thing that drives Claudio’s passion -- good food.  Only the best ingredients are used in his cooking, and he loves a good Argentinian barbeque.  His travels have brought him to several countries in Europe and the Americas.  He also has a background in tourism marketing and is a French and Spanish translator for Immigration Canada.  As a true advocate of Peruvian cuisine, his goal is to use his knowledge and experience to educate and promote Peru and its cuisine to British Columbians and the world