MOLDOVA IS ME // From Denmark, through China, back home; story of Moldovan woman who opened in Chisinau first restaurant with Japanese Omakase concept

She was born in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, into a family of students born in Moldova. Her mother is from the village of Pepeni, Sangerei district, and her father comes from the Transnistrian region. After more than nine years spent in Denmark, where she built a career, met her future husband and discovered Asian culture from the inside, Carolina Palega Chen returned home to start a new adventure: opening the first restaurant with a Japanese Omakase concept in Moldova.

“I am very excited, I really like the dynamism here, people really move fast and are quite active, and when everyone is very active and dynamic, it also motivates you to be like that. After a quiet life, I missed activity, more action. Plus, you are close to your family; sometimes you simply miss talking to someone, to your own people and that also motivates you.”

Her story seems taken from a modern novel about travels, encounters between cultures and the longing to return to one’s roots.

Contacted by MOLDPRES, Carolina shared what life in Denmark was like, how she met her husband, Qi Chen, born in China, and why the two chose Moldova to turn their passion for gastronomy into a business.

Studies in Denmark and first lessons about the wide world

After graduating from lyceum, Carolina left for Denmark, where she studied business and administration. She lived in the city of Horsens and says that the Danish academic experience impressed her through its focus on practice and communication.

“The studies are very application-oriented. There isn’t so much theory, but rather interaction and practical exercises. The education is high-quality,” she says.

Still, life in Denmark is not for everyone. The cold, rainy climate and the reserved nature of the locals were challenges for the young woman from Moldova.

“If you love the sun, Denmark is not the right country. People are polite, but more withdrawn. It is harder to make friends, because they don’t open up that easily,” Carolina recalls.

A meeting among sushi knives and late-night conversations

In parallel with her studies, Carolina looked for a job. After more attempts, she ended up in a sushi restaurant in Horsens. That was where the most important stage of her life would begin.

“I walked into an elegant sushi restaurant and saw Qi in the open kitchen, preparing the fish. I didn’t even think I would be hired. At first, it was very hard for me, everything was new,” she remembers.

Qi Chen, a chef of Chinese origin, was working in that restaurant as well. Their friendship developed gradually, without grand gestures, but with a lot of patience.

“I lived about ten kilometers away and he always wanted to walk me home. I refused, so he would call me and talk to me the whole way. Every day we had phone conversations of almost an hour. That’s how we grew closer,” says Carolina.

Today, the two are married and share the same passion for gastronomy.

China, a world that surprised her

Her relationship with Qi gave Carolina the chance to discover Chinese culture as well. Her first trip to China took place in 2018, an experience that impressed her deeply.

She was surprised by the level of digitalization, the cleanliness of the cities and the way older generations use technology in their daily lives.

“I had a real culture shock. In Nanjing, the former capital of China, I saw impressive order and cleanliness. I was also surprised that elderly people use technology with such ease,” she says.

From her husband’s family she also learned other lessons about Asian culture, including the importance of a balanced diet and of eating meals together.

“Let’s go to Moldova”

After almost a decade spent in Denmark, the two began to think about their next step.

Initially, they dreamed of Spain, attracted by the climate and the proximity to the sea. But the decisive proposal came from Qi.

“He simply told me: ‘Let’s go to Moldova and open our own restaurant.’ He had already experienced the hospitality of Moldovans and felt that there were opportunities for development here,” says Carolina.

Coming back home was not without surprises. After years spent abroad, she discovered that even the simplest things seemed different.

“I felt like a newcomer. I had different habits and sometimes I was surprised by very ordinary things, from parking systems to certain administrative procedures,” she admits.

The first Omakase restaurant in Moldova

Together, they ruled to turn the experience they had gained in Denmark into a unique project for Chisinau.

This is how the first restaurant of Moldova based on the Japanese Omakase concept appeared.

In Japanese, “Omakase” means “I leave it in your hands.” The customer does not order from a menu, but instead gives the chef the freedom to create the entire culinary experience.

“In Japan, an Omakase meal is like a play. There is an introduction, a climax and an ending. The dishes are served in a certain order, from the most delicate to the most intense. We kept this philosophy, but we also adapted it to local tastes,” Carolina says.

Success did not take long to come. Many customers discovered this concept for the first time, while others recognized it from experiences they had in Japan or in major European capitals.

A Chinese who found his place in Moldova

For Qi Chen, Moldova has meanwhile become a second home.

He says he was won over by the people, the wines and the family atmosphere.

“I first came here in 2018 and I liked it a lot. People are friendly, the food is good, and we have Carolina’s family here. When I met her grandfather in the countryside, he was curious to learn more about me, but he welcomed me very warmly,” Qi recalls.

As a chef, he has also noticed the difference between customers in Denmark and the ones from Moldova.

“In Denmark, people choose very carefully what they eat. In Moldova, customers are more open to trying new things. For a chef, that is wonderful,” he says.

The story of Carolina Palega Chen and Qi Chen is one about the meeting of three worlds – Moldova, Denmark and China. It is a story about the courage to return home and the belief that sometimes the boldest dreams can come to life exactly in the place you once left.

Author: Bianca Gheorghita