From the Ring to the Kitchen: A BJ Brazilian Expat's Culinary Journey

"You know, being in the kitchen all the time, you just can't help but constantly taste what you're making", Brazilian expat Renato King says with a wry smile. Since working in the kitchen at age 17, it would be the impact of his culinary career on his physical health that would lead him to MMA, and then MMA would lead him back into the kitchen in Beijing with healthy meals for all in mind.

From a young age, King was captivated by sports, with handball being his primary passion during high school. However, his career as a chef kept him away from athletic pursuits, leading to weight gain and gentle scolding from his concerned mother, who urged him to exercise more. Taking her words to heart, King began training in Muay Thai. A transformative moment arrived when a friend recognized his talent for fighting and suggested that he try MMA. Intrigued by the idea, Renato asked himself, "Why not?" and in 2009, he shifted his focus to becoming a successful MMA fighter.

King's love for culinary arts remained unwavering despite his venture into fighting. Growing up with parents who both worked in the restaurant industry, King's passion for cooking was evident from a young age. Cooking has always been a source of comfort and relaxation for him, and his understanding of flavors and nutrition has only grown stronger over time.

As a professional MMA fighter, King recognizes the vital role that a balanced diet plays in achieving peak performance. With his five years of experience as a chef, he has gained invaluable knowledge about what makes a healthy and nutritious diet. Inspired by his desire to help others lead healthier lives, King conceived the idea of Renato Kitchen, a place where people can come together to try out his specially designed recipes. 

Renato Kitchen currently offers four distinct recipes, including options based on chicken and seafood. On Renato Kitchen's official WeChat account (RenatoKitchen大黑熊厨房), customers can select from a range of four recipes available in five day meal plans. King has recently partnered with Maria, a Brazilian chef with over two decades of experience, to introduce a new vegan recipe featuring protein-rich tofu salad.

In line with his belief in the importance of a balanced diet, King is also expanding the menu to offer greater variety. "I wouldn't mind eating the same food every day for the sake of keeping healthy," said the athlete. "I am one of those who can prep a week's food ahead of time and store them in the fridge, and I can totally get used to eating the same thing for the next five days when I am training. But for our customers, it is really easy to get tired of eating the same things for five days. So, I am updating the menu to mix more items into our recipes."

Naturally, the menu showcases some of King's personal favorites, such as the banana cakes and meatballs. Whenever he talks about these dishes, his expressions can't help but resemble a drooling emoji.

However, what truly sets Renato's Kitchen apart is his Brazilian touch in crafting the recipes. "I just try to incorporate Brazilian flavors since I'm from Brazil," he explains. A prime example is the chicken sandwich, where King adds a whole lot of garlic to the chicken -- with heavy garlic flavor being a quintessential aspect of Brazilian cooking. Additionally, unlike typical Chinese rice, the Brazilian style of preparing rice incorporates a garlicky and salty base. It's not just limited to rice, either; even the black beans on the menu share this garlicky and salty essence. King recalls his surprise upon arriving in China, "I was astonished to find sweet black beans at 7/11 convenience stores. In Brazil, we just don't do it like that."

Unlike Chinese cuisine, Brazilians aren't big fans of spicy food either. King explains, "We don't cook with chilis, but we add spices after the dishes are cooked." King recalls his childhood, where his mother would infuse olive oil with chili flavor by letting the chili halves rest in the oil for two days.

Although not being a huge fan of chilis himself, King acknowledges the significant number of customers who have a penchant for spicy food. As a result, to cater to their preferences, he also provides chili oil as a dipping choice.

King has an aspiration to open his own restaurant in Beijing, as he has observed a lack of, in his opinion, authentic Brazilian cuisine options besides Latina and Casa Acai. While Latina is renowned for its Brazilian-style barbecue and Casa Acai specializes in desserts, there is still a gap in the market for other Brazilian delicacies. King is determined to fill this void with his unique restaurant concept. He envisions a Brazilian-style eatery that serves delicious pizzas and burgers, as well as offering an array of specialties such as South African dishes and pastas.

From starting as a young chef at the age of 17 to becoming a professional MMA fighter, King has now come full circle by starting the dining concept Renato Kitchen. Still being an active fighter, King hopes to imbue Renato Kitchen with a fighter's spirit. "I believe that the same discipline and dedication required in MMA are necessary for creating a successful restaurant," King said.

King now hosts monthly Sunday Brunches in partnership with Wobbit. If you're interested in joining Renato's Kitchen for the monthly brunch, simply scan the QR code below to join the group chat or add King's WeChat ID: Renatoking7.  Please note the upcoming kitchen brunch has been rescheduled to next month owing to the May Holiday. Stay tuned for exciting culinary experience updates in May!

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Images: Courtesy of Renato King