The new concept was signed by Chef Chakall at El Corte Inglés in Gaia. The space where Empanadas Argentinas are the ‘stars’ is a tribute to their mother, Susy.
The new concept was signed by Chef Chakall at El Corte Inglés in Gaia. The space where Empanadas Argentinas are the ‘stars’ is a tribute to their mother, Susy.Chef Chakall’s new restaurant concept was officially opened on March 3, at El Corte Inglés in Vila Nova de Gaia – La Susy by Chakall.
This space by the Argentine chef is the first in the north of Portugal and is also the first of the franchising concept that pays tribute in life to her mother, Susana Maria Fisch-Susy-as she was always called by her family and friends. La Susy by Chakall aims to share the famous Argentine empanadas and other iconic delicacies of the gastronomy of its home country with the world. The first “stop” is in Vila Nova de Gaia but there are already plans for other openings in the future.
The idea behind La Susy by Chakall began to be designed in the midst of a pandemic by Chakall and his sister, Silvina Lopez, with the aim of immortalizing their mother’s secret recipe – a cook and restaurant entrepreneur in her heyday -, and has been one of the first cooking lessons for the 6 brothers. As Chakall confessed, “I started learning to make Empanadas when I was about 5 or 6 years old. I remember that on weekends, especially, there were people who travelled 2 to 3 hours to come to my mother’s restaurant just to enjoy her empanadas. We were 6 brothers and we all helped in the kitchen. Our mother is, in fact, our biggest inspiration!”
During the pandemic, the manufacture of empanadas began, which, in a first phase, were destined for a supermarket chain in France, and the concept began to be designed by the brothers until it materialized in the first physical space that is now born on the main avenue in Vila Nova de Gaia.
“For El Corte Inglés, whose main objective is to serve its customers well by presenting at all times exclusive, innovative and qualified proposals, the partnership with Chef Chakall represents, precisely, the fulfilment of our purpose. La Susy by Chakall offers an extraordinary variety of ’empanadas’, with flavour, refinement and quality“, explains the director of El Corte Inglés de Gaia Porto, Tiago Paz.
At the opening of the space, Silvina Lopez also revealed that there are already plans to expand the brand both nationally, and Lisbon may receive La Susy by Chakall soon, but Luxembourg and Dubai are also on the horizon in the near future, internationally. Silvina also shared what to expect from the proposed menu that “in addition to the Classic Meat Empanadas (Porteña) and the children’s favourite with ham and cheese filling (Patagonia), plus 12 flavours with creations of fillings that transport us to various places in the world, including Portugal, that remind us of some of the trips we have taken throughout our lives.”
Chakall also stressed that “the secret recipe belongs to our mother and with this new brand we intend to bring Argentina to Portugal and from here to the world. The manufacture is carried out in Portugal, with the opening of its own production unit in the Lourinhã area also shortly.”
At La Susy by Chakall, at El Corte Inglés, while enjoying an empanada you can travel to Morocco, Lapland, Texas, Beijing, Capri, just to list some of the destinations that are part of the Lopez family’s passport stamps. All the empanadas have a filling inspired by the local cuisine of each country or city visited, because, according to the brothers, “travels are also part of our DNA and food effectively unites people and the memories we bring back from the places we visit. For us, empanadas are also part of our culture and, above all, of our affective memory. Eating an empanada takes us back to our childhood, to the smells, flavours and memories that brought us here, but above all to what our mother represents in our lives.”
Quem é La Susy?
In addition to the Empanadas Argentinas, with a unit price of €2.95, those who visit La Susy by Chakall can also find other icons of Argentine cuisine such as Alfajores or purchase Dulce de Leche and Chimichurri (a typical Argentine sauce that goes perfectly with the empanadas – or with the meats), as well as several Argentine wines with the signature (and blend) of the chef himself and also national wines with his signature.
The Empanadas are very practical, ideal for a grab & go concept, they can be tasted on the spot, purchased in take away to take home or to the office, and, very soon, La Susy by Chakall will also be available on the platforms. usual delivery.
Who is La Susy?
The woman for whom, in a country where the empanada is “queen”, people would drive hours on the road just to taste her own. She was the one who discovered ways – at a time when it was not easy to freeze and package food – for people who wanted to make the real taste of empanadas known to their families in Italy, just to give an example, to do so.
Susana Maria Fisch – or Susy, as her family affectionately calls her, was born in a small town in Buenos Aires in 1937. Tireless worker, a true strength, with golden hands in the kitchen. Her talent with the pots, a true dance of ingredients transformed into fabulous dishes. In addition to being a full-fledged cook, she was, in her heyday, a great businesswoman in the catering industry and led great teams. Her secret empanada recipe would only be shared with her children.
Susy was the perfect hostess at her restaurant’s huge tables filled with friends and family always with empanadas – and a smile! – to accompany and fill in the weekends.
Mother of 6 children. Grandmother of 13 grandchildren.
A lifetime of sacrifice to give her children the best she could. Often a mother and father at the same time, she was always a fighting woman and a great example. Endless working hours, always with inexhaustible energy. A woman of firm character and strong personality, but affectionate and very resilient. A life of joys, but also of many challenges and many tears, a woman ahead of her time. A life lesson for everyone around her, an example that every day of our life is a new opportunity to start over, over and over again.
+info La Susy by Chakall
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