‘It’s not about the glory, it’s about inspiration. It’s not a job – it’s a way of life.’ These are the words of renowned executive chef, Vladimir Mukhin—as part of Lexus’ Journeys in Taste, a four-part documentary series celebrating the craft and vision of the world’s most innovative tastemakers.
Raised in the small town of Yessentuki, Russia, Mukhin moved to Moscow and earned his stripes from dishwasher to executive chef at The White Rabbit. Famous for its avant-garde Russian recipes and ingredients, the restaurant was named one the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2017.
“The White Rabbit is a story about Alice in Wonderland, where it’s not unusual to be served garlic-infused dishes for dessert”, says Mukhin. The chef describes it as magical because you never know what to expect. Even the interior, is a contemporary version of an antique decorative style.
Mukhini is a fifth-generation chef who was taught to cook by his grandmother. His motto is reinvention and describes his cooking as ‘a constant evolution of a by-gone Russian era before the soviet-years took hold.’ Working exclusively with Russian ingredients, Mukhin grows most of his own produce and is supplied by only a handful of farmers from across his vast homeland. The chef’s pioneering approach has won him a coveted spot on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants award for the third year running.
Performance and high-end craftsmanship are the essence of the Lexus ES F SPORT. And it is Mukhini’s intense focus and attention to detail, driven by a desire to constantly raise the bar—that perfectly aligns with the ethos of the Lexus brand. It’s no wonder that as Mukhin navigates the nocturnal streets of his adopted city, that he would liken his kitchen to a fine-tuned machine.
