The Legacy of Lidice in Michelin - August 2024
- Dany Ludvíková
- Aug 1, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 10
My name is Dany Ludvíková, and I would like to share my culinary journey with you.
Since I was a little girl, I have spent most of my time in the kitchen—whether it was sneaking bites of treats, helping with cooking, or finishing details on cakes. Being a chef is not the easiest job in the world. Even though it may seem that way compared to home cooking, a professional chef’s career can often be time-consuming, physically, and mentally demanding. However, it is a profession that fully absorbs you.
My view of a professional culinary career is that one must be fully devoted, as work becomes the main priority at a certain point. Fourteen hours on your feet, preparation, service, and cleaning—that is the routine. My first culinary steps began at home, where my granny and mom taught me the basics of cooking and baking. Although my mom is not a trained pastry chef, she has an immense talent that she has passed on to me throughout my life, guiding me slowly but surely toward our now family trade.
In the Czech Republic, I studied at a culinary high school, which opened many doors for me—whether into the secrets of bartending, coffee, or wine. I was also fortunate to travel the world and build connections. Since I was little, I have always wanted to travel; I am known for having the shoes of a wandering calf, as we say at home, which means I always need to travel and wander around places. I don’t like staying in one place for too long; I enjoy discovering new places.
In my first year, I travelled to Beijing, China. That was a journey that completely changed my perspective on life. From looking at photos of the Great Wall of China, thinking that someone like me would never visit, to the moment when I walked on the Great Wall at fifteen. That was when I realized that any dream I have will come true if I pursue it passionately. I know it may sound cliché, but believe it or not, it works. After my adventure in China, I went to Orlando, Florida, where I met many amazing chefs and culinary professionals with whom I still keep in touch. We inspire each other with our journeys.
After finishing high school and successfully graduating, I felt the need for change. I was at an age where I wanted to prove to myself that I could build my own career and path. I decided to improve my English and take a trip to see if living abroad for the long term is the right path for me. It was an exciting change, discovering new places and exploring a new culture without prejudice.
I still remember my feelings while waiting for my luggage to be checked in on the last day at the airport and crying because I didn’t want to go home. Not because I didn’t want to come back home to my family but because I was going back to a world that no longer felt as exciting to me at that time. When I arrived home, I began looking for places in the world where I could move and fully start my adult life. After many talks and arguments, the United Kingdom won, specifically Birmingham and University College Birmingham and their course in Culinary Arts Management.
Now, four years after my final decision to move away from my family to an unknown world, I am writing this article. I have successfully completed my bachelor’s degree, work as a Chef de partie in a Michelin restaurant, and plan to move to another country at the end of the year.
It’s funny how life works. You can have thousands of plans, but life does it in its own way in the end, anyway, haha. I would very much like to share my culinary experiences with you. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to the next time I can share more about life in England and how a Michelin restaurant actually operates.
