i. Biography
Since 2009, co-ownership and co-chef work at Vivanda in Barcelona have defined Gabi Calzado’s practice. The arrangement ties kitchen execution to the upkeep of the room itself, so the work lands in a measured, disciplined register rather than a performative one.
The Climb
A dual post as co-chef and co-owner has kept Gabi Calzado inside the full daily mechanics of Vivanda since 2009. That combination asks for technical control, but also for the steadier skills of keeping service aligned, ownership responsibilities in view, and the restaurant’s character consistent over time. The craft here is maintenance as much as creation: the slow accumulation of decisions that preserves a clear line through years of service.
Today
Since 2009, Calzado has been co-owner and co-chef of Vivanda in Sarrià, Barcelona, Spain. The restaurant’s setting mirrors the kind of work it asks for: composed, exacting, and built around a clear standard. As co-owner, he helps hold the place together; as co-chef, he is in the kitchen for the daily pressure of service, where timing, coordination, and a shared sense of purpose matter every night. That overlap gives the role its weight. Ownership is not separated from the pass or the plating line; it is present in the same rooms where the food leaves the kitchen and the restaurant’s identity is made visible. Calzado’s work therefore extends past individual dishes and into the atmosphere that supports them. Vivanda’s calm, rigorous expression of tradition comes from repetition done carefully, with the kind of attention that only becomes legible over years. At Vivanda, Calzado’s contribution reads in restraint rather than display. The standard is not casual, even when the effect is quiet: composure at this level is usually the result of habits kept in order service after service. His role sits where those habits are tested and maintained.
Recognition
Gabi Calzado's honors include Repsol Recomendado.
Profile updated August 2026
FAQ
Asked of Gabi
What is Gabi Calzado's current role?
As of 2026, Gabi Calzado is Co-owner and co-chef.
What recognition has Gabi Calzado received?
Repsol Recomendado.
What is Gabi Calzado known for?
Traditional Catalan cuisine.
