Sad and bitter news. Dani Redondo Cuevas, head chef at Can Roca, has lost his life at the age of 46 in a traffic accident.
Dani is no longer among us. He has made an accelerated trip to reunite with his father. The angels will sing with their stews. What an enormous talent he possessed. Born to cook, he was a persevering, passionate and talented person. Sometimes grumpy, the result of his character and demands. He had a gigantic heart.
The angel for the kitchen, that elf that cannot be explained in the kitchen, was inherited from his delicious mother María Dolores.
A tireless worker is leaving. An extraordinary chef touched by the wand of the privileged. He deserved a full life. He made many careers in life. He overcame challenges that few can overcome.
He completed his first degree in cooking at the Girona Hospitality School and graduated in the kitchen of Can Roca, next to our mother. Street neighbor, son of Antonio Redondo (epd) and María Dolores Cuevas, brother of Antonio, Mari Pau and Loli, he was 15 years old when he fully joined our life. Montse and Dani cooked; and Sara Arriscado, our mother’s right hand; They quarreled and laughed in equal measure. The boy with the curls learned even more from Joan at El Celler. He grew up professionally alongside Jordi. Elbow to elbow. They hit it off. “…When I entered the kitchen, you woke me up quickly. You were the best at that. Bluntly, you were sincere and direct. You couldn’t handle the bullshit. You were hardworking like yourself, responsible and orderly. Don’t let anyone touch your things! Of course, a little grumpy because you didn’t know how to say things differently. I have felt you like a brother, like family,” he wrote in his love letter on that new channel of emotions and connections that is Instagram.
His first stage was 13 years, of which he spent nine years as head chef. He experienced the transformation of gastronomy and won the second star at the Celler de Can Roca.
He went to Brazil in 2006 with his ex-partner, Helena Rizzo, seduced by love and improvement. He sowed inspiration and achieved triumphs after triumphs. Maní in São Paulo, was his creation. A restaurant of excellence, a reference. The best restaurant in Brazil. The fifth best restaurant in Latin America. He then opened Manioca for events. Lecturer around the world. He enjoyed and suffered success, which is always a devilish reality from which it is not always easy to protect oneself. Redirect a life. Rebuild bridges. Gain self-esteem. Get out of the mud and generate positivity. Ten years later and with the support of “his Txani”, he took the step to confront his professional past. He found in Can Roca a journey to his origins, close to his mother and ours, with whom he started as a teenager. He managed to encourage the team and grow a neighborhood bar and restaurant. He demonstrated his excellence and overcame the vicissitudes to achieve victory. He enjoyed a life in harmony. Now yes. It was already good. He conquered hearts from the kitchen. Shyly, he opened himself to unfathomable friendships: Txani and Olatz.
We lived our desires and dreams with enthusiasm. A mountain of hope and projects awaited us. His mother knew it. We imagined beautiful things.
But his life was a short soup. A sudden boil. The life of his pot was emptied.
“Every morning I looked into the green kitchen so that you could see me, to tell you between gestures and glances that I was there, recognizing you, loving you, taking care of you.”
We accompany the Redondo Cuevas family in that painful moment; to his sisters and brother, family, neighbors of the neighborhood, and the Can Roca family and his friends for such a sensitive loss.
Rest in peace, dear Dani. You will remain forever in our hearts.
Now, in our neighborhood the legend will begin, perhaps also in remote places, overseas, emotions also cook, feelings boil and hearts cry.
