i. Biography
Matias Perdomo is the Uruguayan chef at Contraste in Milan, a role he has held since 2015. Born in Uruguay, he has moved through a compact but distinctive career arc: from kitchen work to a leadership post in Milan, and ultimately to the restaurant that would become tied to his Michelin recognition. His path reads less like a straight line than a steady refinement of taste, technique, and point of view.
The Path
Kitchen discipline, then broader service systems, then leadership: that is the sequence that shaped Matias Perdomo’s early career. He began at a small Chilean restaurant, where pace and flexibility would have been part of the daily brief. French catering followed, adding another working language of precision and timing before he took charge of the kitchen at Pont de Ferr in Italy, a post he held until 2014. That period marked the shift from execution to authorship, setting up the move to Contraste in 2015.
The Work Today
At Contraste in Milan, since 2015, Perdomo has worked in a role that gives his ideas room to settle into a clearer line. The kitchen language around that change is direct: “We’re reborn: now we play as adults.” It reads as a statement of process, not drama — a way of naming the difference between resetting a restaurant and simply changing its surface. He has also described a dessert in equally plain terms: “That’s why I made a dessert shaped like Lego called “This is not a game. A kaleidoscope of childhood flavours”, the idea to make people laugh and relax without leaving the taste behind.” The point is not novelty for its own sake, but a controlled use of play to carry flavor and structure.
Signature
Matias’s signature dishes include This is not a game. A kaleidoscope of childhood flavours, framed" calamari in honour of Juan Mirò, the chocolate cigar, Riflesso, and Riflessioni. The list points to a kitchen that uses naming as part of the plate’s construction: reference, memory, and wit are built into the brief before the dish reaches the pass. The result is work that asks to be read and tasted at the same time, with form and flavor carrying equal weight.
In Their Words “That’s why I made a dessert shaped like Lego called “This is not a game. A kaleidoscope of childhood flavours”, the idea to make people laugh and relax without leaving the taste behind.” “We did this work because it was necessary from several points of view. We felt the need to renew ourselves in a total rebranding, also spiritual, from the inside out.”
Acclaim
Matias’s honors include Michelin Guide — one Michelin star.
Profile updated August 2026
FAQ
Asked of Matias
What is Matias Perdomo's current role?
Matias Perdomo is Chef at Contraste.
Where did Matias Perdomo work before?
Earlier in their career, Matias Perdomo worked at a small Chilean restaurant, French catering, and Pont de Ferr.
What recognition has Matias Perdomo received?
Michelin Guide — one Michelin star.
