One of the best Lithuanian restaurants in Vilnius has opened.

Momo Grill Vilnius had trouble opening its doors. It would have opened, if it weren’t for a pandemic and quarantine, it would hit the restaurant market harder. “We close all the restaurants, we do not prepare the takeaways, together with the team we decided that the food we produce is the most suitable to eat at the restaurant table,” says Vytautas.

He spent all of his quarantine time at home. For the kitchen and the new recipes, he says, there wasn’t much time. “I became a true negotiator,” he smiles. “I negotiated with the store owners, suppliers, employees, organized mini strategy sessions, discussed how we would survive, and cared for our new Vilnius restaurant all the time.”

Vytautas, always waiting for his ideas, says that the quarantine did not adjust its plans to open another restaurant: “If we have already decided what the restaurant will be, there is absolutely nothing to look back on. Of course, we are looking at what is happening, how people’s habits are changing, and if cardinal changes are suddenly needed, we will definitely do them. “

In 2009, when Vytautas and his wife Kristina were building a La Cle restaurant in Klaipeda, it was no less uncomfortable, so the chef knows what it means to start working during a crisis. “You will not escape anxiety,” he says. – We had to rethink a lot of things: finances, team composition, even menus. Once I have tried it, I have the experience of how to move forward successfully despite all the difficulties. That is what we will do. “

Vytautas is convinced: lowering your hands when it is difficult is the easiest way out. He himself chooses a more difficult but more interesting path. “I know it won’t be easy, but I’m ready for it.” And I prepare my team for difficulties, “he adds.

It’s been almost a month since your restaurant team has been working. “I feel how focused she is, how strong and how much motivation we all have. Maybe it’s because we communicate at least once a week during quarantine, we all share thoughts and ideas together, “says one of the best chefs in our country. Its restaurants are among the top twenty Lithuanian restaurants.

Vytautas recently spends most of his time in Vilnius, where his new restaurant is located on Totorių street. “I saw the space, I really liked it, I didn’t think for a long time what was around, if there would be a place to park a car, if the street was full or not. We will try to keep the “Momo” concept: it will be a grill and a good meat restaurant, where guests will find some vegetarian dishes. “

Vilnius chef “Momo” will be led by chef Artūras Naujokas. “In order not to lose people, I offered some of our chefs from Klaipeda and Kaunas to move to Vilnius. They accepted the offer. They will all have to fight together for the Vilnius guests and make our restaurant famous and happy to visit,” he says. Vytautas Samavičius.

Favorite dish of Vitautas and his family:

Roast duck with fresh potatoes and asparagus

Chunks for you:

• 2 kg anties
• 15 g of steam masala spices
• 50 g olive oil
• 6 g of salt
• 1 kg of fresh potatoes with skin
• various sprigs of thyme
• 1 kg of green asparagus
• some garlic cloves

Rub the duck with spices and keep it in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours.
Wash the potatoes, rub with salt and fresh thyme. Do not forgive him.
Put the duck and potatoes in a can, cover with aluminum foil and bake for 2.5-3 hours.
Clean the asparagus, marinate with garlic and thyme, sprinkle with salt, pepper and fry.

Put the roast duck and potatoes in a large bowl. Top with asparagus. And share.