It’s impossible to talk about restaurants without talking about the elephant in the room: The skyrocketing energy prices, the ongoing staff shortages and, of course, the rising food prices. These are happening across the industry and it’s out of Mykhaylyuk’s control. No one knows what’s going to happen in the future, but at Cafe Pacifico they’re focusing on the now and working with people they trust.

“I’ve been in the business for a very long time and have close relationships with suppliers such as Direct Meats and MX Foods – it’s like a marriage, and we’re like husband and wife,” he says, laughing. “I can easily track and see where all my orders are with REKKI. The best thing is being able to request a quote to compare and get competitive prices. I’m not afraid of asking around for the best price, and it’s probably saved me about seven to eight thousand pounds a year.”

For Mykhaylyuk, consistency is key when it comes to running a kitchen. Since using REKKI it’s helped him monitor his business and keep on top of ordering and finances, all in one place. 

“I used to spend hours and hours trying to find new suppliers, asking around for quality ingredients at a competitive price. Now, I spend no more than half an hour and have more time to head home to relax,” he explains. “Working with suppliers is a two-way street because I want to rely on them to deliver, and I want them to trust me to do my job properly and pay on time.”

The 62-year-old kitchen veteran has seen it all. He used to work as an engineer at a plant in the defence industry in Ukraine, but was forced to leave his home following the collapse of the Soviet Union. When he came to the UK, 22 years ago, he was presented with two options: working in construction or cooking in the kitchen. He chose the kitchen life and has never looked back.

Mykhaylyuk started out as a kitchen porter at Cafe Pacifico in Covent Garden and worked his way up to be the head chef. The Mexican cantina was one of the first of its kind in the UK, and since 1982 Cafe Pacifico has been serving legendary cocktails, nachos, fajitas, quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos and burritos to celebrities, City workers, theatregoers and tourists. Founder Tomas Estes, who passed away last year, was a tequila ambassador and pioneer, who helped put the agave spirit on the map and introduced Europeans to a Mexican way of drinking and dining. He opened 18 Cafe Pacifico venues across the world, including Cologne, Milan, Sydney and Paris. In 2016, Estes sold the restaurant to Mykhaylyuk and other long-serving staff.

Despite the uncertain future and potential bumps along the way, what’s important to Mykhaylyuk is more than just providing and eating food – it’s about bringing people together.

“Work doesn’t feel like work because the people I work with are my best friends and they’re like family. We’ve been together through thick and thin for years, and it’s like going from one home to another,” he says. “It’s all about building strong relationships, and what I love about this job is that we treat each other with kindness and respect.”

Suppliers that Cafe Pacifico loves on REKKI: Direct Meats MX Foods Aljo Capital Seafoods Debono Foods

5 Langley St, London WC2H 9JA