Crețu Oxana

About

Oxana Crețu was born in Cahul, Republic of Moldova, and found her calling in gastronomy after completing art studies in France. Initially dedicated to drawing and industrial design, she discovered her passion for cooking when she became a mother, wanting to leave her child a consistent and significant legacy. Her culinary training was largely self-taught, supplemented by courses at École Culinaire Jean-Luc Molle and a specialization period at Alain Ducasse, although she did not have a formal mentor to guide her in this career. In 2017, Oxana opened her own restaurant in Bordeaux, initially named Cromagnon, where she offered raw and ancestral gastronomy. Her inspiration came from her childhood spent with her grandfather, a forest ranger, who had passed on to her a love for traditional Moldovan dishes and fresh ingredients. In 2023, she renamed her restaurant "Inima" – a Moldovan word meaning "heartfelt" – evolving towards refined and contemporary cuisine, with tasting menus of five to nine courses, combining Japanese influences with the taste memories of Bessarabia. Oxana Crețu's work has been recognized by Michelin inspectors, with the restaurant being included in the famous guide, and her creations have attracted attention for their originality and artistic presentation. In 2024, the Moldovan chef was selected among the best chefs in France to contribute to the Olympic Games menu. She has been working in the food industry for six years and continues to promote the gastronomy of her origin, returning to the Republic of Moldova monthly to share her experience, also serving as a gastronomic ambassador for her home country. Her restaurant operates in the same space in Bordeaux, but with an ever-evolving culinary identity, reflecting her passion and dedication to art and food.