Francis Mallmann is one of the most acclaimed chefs in South America. Born in the Bariloche region of Patagonia, Francis Mallmann grew up in a home where all aspects of cooking were sustained by ever-burning fires. This fueled his fascination for all things culinary, and ultimately his decision to train in the art of French cooking. Francis became a successful chef, but after a while grew restless and bored by the fine dining scene. He decided to return to his roots—cooking with fire!—and applied French techniques to intensify, enhance and develop the flavors and textures of his dishes. He leads with simplicity, generally using only a few ingredients and a series of short steps for cooking. Francis designs all culinary offerings at The Vines Resort & Spa.