Who sets the tone in the ARTE kitchen?

Patrick’s story is not the classic “cook from the cradle” path. His original world was the theatre. He studied acting, sang, danced and you could hear his voice on the radio or in dubbing studios. Gastronomy came unobtrusively as a summer job in a small pizzeria.

It was there, however, that he discovered that emotions can be conveyed to the audience in other ways than from the stage.

“I discovered that I could create emotions in the kitchen too, just in a different way,” Patrik recalls the turning point that definitely changed his direction.

He gathered his experience in hotels in Košice, but a key part of his professional career was connected with our group of brands. For three years he worked in our sister hotel Lomnica under the guidance of creative chef Tomáš Ševčík, where he perfectly perceived our philosophy of approach to gastronomy.

His journey in Pálffy Manor started in 2022 in the position of sous chef. Thanks to his precision and vision, it didn’t take long for him to take over the helm of the Manor’s kitchen as Head Chef from 2023. Today, he proudly leads our flagship fine dining restaurant , ARTE Restaurant.

However, his role does not end there. Patrik is also in charge of the entire event kitchen of the manor. He ensures that the high standard of gastronomy that our guests are accustomed to at ARTE accompanies every wedding, celebration or corporate event in the historic premises of Pálffy Manor.

Conscious cooking: tradition in a new guise

Don’t look for exotic or imported ingredients in the ARTE kitchen. Patrick’s philosophy is built on three pillars:

1. Locality: making the most of what our land gives us.
2. Tradition: the legacy of the Austro-Hungarian cuisine, which is naturally linked to the manor house.
3. Nostalgia: Flavours we know, presented in a form we didn’t expect.

A perfect example is our almond dessert. The inspiration came from an almond tree growing right next to the manor house. The result is burnt almond milk with black tea in a caramel chocolate crust. It looks like an almond, tastes like a memory, in fact it is a complex flavour full of surprising textures.

You might expect the Head Chef of a top restaurant to prepare an elaborate tasting menu at home. The opposite is true. Patrik admits with a smile that what he likes best is what he doesn’t have to cook himself.

His real heart remains honest home-cooked food.

“My favourite is my grandfather’s kitchen. Chicken perpetto with butter gnocchi, I’d eat that anytime.”

It is this humility and love of simple, honest flavours that makes ARTE’s cuisine under Patrick’s direction so special. Come and taste them for yourself.

Are you interested in Patrick’s story? Book your table at ARTE Restaurant and experience his “theatre of flavours” for yourself.