Pavel Drdel is the chef and owner of the restaurant Sůl & Řepa in Strakonice. He trained in Italy, where he was inspired to cook with local ingredients, and today in his restaurant he works with small farmers and local suppliers, combining Czech and foreign methods and cooking local dishes full of flavour. Therefore the basis of his cuisine starts not at the stove, but with local farmers in the field. That's why he appreciates every ingredient and tries to process it perfectly. He pickles, he dries, he ferments. He is one of the founding members of the South Bohemian association of four restaurants Jíme Jih.