María Elena... Alive Punta del Este

Side by side with her mother, surrounded by pots and recipes, mixing de ingredients of that lovely orange cake that still today is a delight for the palate of friends; Chef María Elena Marfetán started to develop the bold and creative cooking that today surprises those who visit  “Lo de Tere".
At the beginning, María Elena, together with her siblings Mercedes, Diego, Cuca and Tato, was a kitchen assistant at "La Balconada". Later, she would gain experience working at "Lo de Carlota" restaurant (Montevideo).

In 2000, her intrepid and perfectionist spirit prompted her to travel to Spain. In the old continent, she attended Chef Paul Bocousse’s school and worked at Café Oriente (Madrid).
In 2001, María Elena came back a Chef and, together with her mother, took on the challenge of creating the unique style that has turned "Lo de Tere" into an icon of Punta del Este´s gastronomy.
With her experience and the teachings of great chefs, María Elena handles the kitchen at “Lo de Tere", surrounded by a team of young professionals like Fernando César, Juan Rodríguez, Paola Pelufo and Hugo González. Together they create an ideal work team in a space where the heat of the fires contrasting with the cold, fills with energy each dish from this gastronomic trend called
"La cocina de Punta del Este".

“I can´t do anything by myself. I need my team, from the person who keeps the fires to the washing staff”