Wimbledon is the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament with a history dating back to 1877, bringing together the best in the sport, with millions watching it on the small screen, but few can watch it In fact, they are exactly 74 – that’s how many seats in the Royal Box – the VIP box, located on the central court, where traditionally
visiting
royal persons
and celebrities
from the world of sports, cinema, television.
There they have all sorts of amenities, drink tea and try sweets that they can hardly find elsewhere. And for the first time at the tournament they are prepared by a Bulgarian who has been working in London for years and has proven to be one of the best in the craft.
This is Ivan Alexandrov, who has already gained experience in cooking for royalty – three years ago he made the cake for journalists from all over the world, who covered the wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markle.
He did not hesitate at all when he heard the offer to become part of the chefs for the Royal Box at Wimbledon. The invitation to him comes from the chef of the VIP box – the two have worked together before and know their abilities well. “I need a strong pastry chef for the tournament and eventually to stay for a permanent job at the Royal Box,” he told Alexandrov. This is a huge recognition for the Bulgarian, so he immediately agrees. “This is a long-term commitment –
I agreed to get up
chief confectioner
for Wimbledon
which does not end with the end of the tournament, but is year-round “, he explains.
Before entering the kitchen of Wimbledon, he watched tennis matches, but only in front of the TV, and when he played Grigor Dimitrov. “I wasn’t so keen on the sport, but I knew it was the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, and when they invited me and became part of it, I was even more impressed by their whole organization.”
But the people he cooks for there are also more than impressive. Among them are Crown Prince William and his wife, the Duchess Kate Middleton, who presented the cups, aristocrats, football star David Beckham, astronaut Tom Peak, Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, Hollywood actress Priyanka Chopranite, one of Britain’s most beloved. “Mary Berry, and many, many other celebrities.” “I met Mary Berry, she liked my desserts, but I was ashamed to take pictures with her, I’m uncomfortable with all these celebrities,” says Ivan.
At Wimbledon, a dessert is a must from the start of the tournament. These are the traditional strawberries with cream. They were first served there in 1877, when 200 people watched the final, where Spencer William Gore became the first champion of the tournament. Since then, tons of strawberries have been consumed at Wimbledon. “They are a special variety – very big, juicy and sweet, they are grown especially for the tournament,” explains Alexandrov.
The menu of
It’s Wimbledon
classic
English,
all dishes are decided 2-3 weeks before the start of the championship, there is no room for improvisations, and the staff is selected so that it includes not only the best, but also the most tactful and disciplined professionals. Nobody wants to take a risk with a person from the team, who, for example, at the sight of his favorite actress will rush to hug her and want to talk and take pictures with her.
Only the managers usually have access to the representatives of the monarchy – they know well what the royal etiquette is, what the addresses to each of the queen’s relatives are, what the protocol is in their presence.
When Kate Middleton goes to the tournament this year and enters the kitchen, the area is carefully searched beforehand, and then only the chef talks to her. For her, Ivan and his colleagues prepare caster panna cotta with rhubarb, as well as traditional strawberries.
Another visitor makes it a little harder for Wimbledon chefs.
Sorry to bother you, Hollywood actor Tom Cruise jokes as he comes down to greet the chefs. He is not far from the truth. Because of his diet, which he follows while shooting his new film,
Cruz does not eat gluten
and dairy products
And which cake is without such ingredients? So Ivan has to think carefully about what he can serve to the star. He decides to make two desserts – one with pistachios and strawberries, and the other – a raw chocolate cake. “We didn’t know who we were cooking for. We received the requirements without being told who they were. When they called us to take a picture with him and greet us, only then did we understand, ”says Alexandrov.
Cruz is not the only celebrity who goes to greet the chefs. At the Wimbledon final, everyone in the kitchen gathers in one place, and Kate Middleton personally faces them and thanks them for another successful tournament, which would not be the same without them.
Ivan combines the work of Wimbledon with his own confectionery business and this seems to be the most difficult. Furthermore
has not stopped with
the masters
courses that
exports to Bulgaria
Even while working on the tournament, students sent by one of the major culinary academies in our country are waiting for him in London to meet and learn from him. From Monday, the day after the end of Wimbledon, he managed to hold his lectures with them, and on Friday he arrived in Sofia to rest and to conduct several more courses.
Ivan is doing everything possible to make his big dream come true – to make his own culinary academy, which he will found together with the chocolatier Elitsa Bozhinova. “I hope this dream of mine will come true by the end of the year. We want to prepare the confectioners in Bulgaria well, then to come to me in England, but to come back – then to have upgraded knowledge and skills, as well as a broad worldview. “
Ivan himself also continues to study, but not in confectionery, but to be a decorator – it is with this skill that he makes his cakes not only very tasty, but also amazingly beautiful. “I can immediately decide what the cake should be inside, what the marshmallow should be, the cream, but my decoration is lame and that’s why I’m constantly learning.” He reads on the topic, watches videos, constantly monitors the publications of good decorators, new trends.
He also absorbs knowledge from the colleagues he works with in various restaurants. Ivan not only makes cakes in his bakery under the brand Boutique Cookie’s Sakes, but also accepts temporary commitments to join as a pastry chef in the kitchen of the best restaurants in London. For example, shortly before becoming part of the staff of Wimbledon, he entered the restaurant of the most famous department store in London “Harrods” for two days. He wants to see their organization there, how interesting their recipes are.
The engagement there was arranged by his agent. Just as actors around the world have their representatives looking for the best job offers, so too
in England
the cooks have
their agents
And among the most sought after by the big restaurants are the good confectioners, who are really rare. “In England they say that confectioners are gold and they are allowed everything, they are courted all the time – their work is so valuable. My agent knows that I prefer to work in places that are luxurious, and that I will do well there. It is responsible because you know that once you do not perform well, they will not look for you again “, says Alexandrov. He has worked in the restaurants of the best hotels in London, such as those in Savoy and Four Seasons. From there, they even offer him to stay as a permanent part of the team. “I could have become a chef at Savoy, a position lower than the head pastry chef.” They say: You are never good enough to start from the highest position in Savoy. But I did not agree – they still call me to manage the whole kitchen, the responsibility is entirely on me, so I did not accept to be one position lower, “he explains.
Ivan graduated from the Technical School of Catering in Bankya, majoring in Confectionery. After graduating, he worked as a waiter for about a year, and then became passionate about confectionery and first entered the famous confectionery “Mozart” and then “Luciano”. But he decided to change his profession and left for Dubai. After two years there he came to his senses and returned to cooking, only in England.
He lives there since
9 years with
his wife and
their son Kaloyan,
which in December will be on 10.
The boy is among the people who are most excited about Alexandrov’s work at Wimbledon – he enjoys the souvenirs that his father gives him from there, he brags to his friends. And he is quite interested in what Ivan is doing. “He even started making remarks to me about the things I do. The other day I made a cake, it was more ordinary. He passed by, looked at her and said: “I think you can do better,” laughs the master confectioner.
Ivan’s brother Vlado Karamazov is also very proud of Ivan’s success. Although they live in different countries, the two are very close and always support each other.
THE RECIPE FROM THE VIP BOX OF WIMBLEDON
Panakota
with yogurt
Products:
330 g of animal cream
330 g of fresh milk
330 g of yogurt
200 g of sugar
12 g gelatin
Method of preparation:
Soak the gelatin in 70 g of cold water and set it aside.
Heat the milk with the sugar and add the soaked gelatin to it.
Add the cream and yogurt to the milk and gelatin.
Pour the mixture into suitable serving cups.
Serve with caramelized apricots.
– .
