Dominican immigrant goes from dishwasher to Michelin-starred chef - washing dishes in river in restaurant kitchen

Madrid (AFP)-
Shortly after Maria matte arrived in Spain in 2003 from the dominican Republic, she began working as a dishwasher at the Michelin restaurant in Madrid.
ALAD restaurant-star Club-
She became a chef only ten years later.
Despite her doubts, Marte kept two Michelin stars in the restaurant, making her the only female chef in the Spanish capital with two stars. Star restaurant.
Her trajectory is likened to a fairy tale, a term she refuses.
"There's a lot of struggle behind this, a lot of work, it's not a story," she said . ".
Like other immigrants, Marte said she left Jarabacoa, a tropical town in the mountains of the dominican Republic, surrounded by rivers and waterfalls, she said, she boarded the plane "looking for a dream visa", citing a song by Dominican singer Juan Luis grera.
Matt, 27, left her little twin, near her then eight-year-old son, who lives in Madrid with his father. -
Always update yourself-
She immediately started working at the upscale club Allard, responsible for keeping the kitchen clean. Marte --
Her mother is a pastry chef and her father owns a restaurant-
She is washing dishes most of the time.
Until one day, the restaurant's parking attendant told her that a position to prepare a chef had already started.
Marte said she enjoyed playing with the oven instead of dolls when she was a child and showed interest in the job but was rejected.
The next time there is a position to prepare a chef, then Restaurant chef Diego greello agreed to give her a chance to do the dishes as long as she can.
"I think it's a challenge," said Mette, who has a relaxed smile and a calm personality.
"I have been on the run," she recalls . ".
Marte says she will allocate time between peeling potatoes on shift and doing other food preparation on shift, cleaning the kitchen after lunch and dinner.
"I can't go home for many days," she said . ".
After six months of this rhythm, she said that "this woman is suitable for cooking, and we have to let her not wash clothes," she said . ".
Spanish chef, the most star Basque chef, Martin berlastegi, recalled in a recent interview with radio Cadena Ser that grero's evaluation of Marte was "very high ".
"He told me that she was very enthusiastic and she always updated herself. . .
"Maria is always very motivated," added Berasategui.
Mate continues to do other work in the kitchen, starting with the pastry department and then continuing to prepare meat and fish dishes.
When gerero left the ALAD club in October 2013, Matt took over as head chef and challenged to keep the two Michelin stars earned in 2007 and 2011.
"Even though some food critics don't trust her, she shut her mouth when the Michelin guide reverifies the two stars," David morario, editor of Spanish culinary magazine ·-
Find the third star
Luisa Orlando, restaurant director, said Marty has proven her ability since gracero traveled a lot and made her responsible.
"She only needs the last jump to be a creative person," she said . ".
She added that she updated the menu in just a few months, "Every dish she launched was a success ".
Marte now directs a team of 16 people who work in a relaxed environment, but cooking is still valued.
They call themselves happy chefs. Why?
Because the first happy person is me, I pass it on to them . "Her menu --
She said it was inspired by the memory of her mother's papaya jam. -
It's the Mediterranean, and her Caribbean roots nod.
Her work respects the original taste of the ingredients.
Marte's star-formed hibiscus flowers are broken with pescic acid and pistachio.
"It represents my land, my origin, like a flower, a delicate woman," she said . ".
Marte said she "still has a long way to go ".
Her goal is to win the third Michelin star for the Allard club.
"I run this club today, which is great for me.
"I wake up and sleep with this smile," she said . ".