Born in Peru almost 60 years ago, César would never have dared to dream that his career as a gardener would take him to Switzerland . He spent his early years on fishing boats along the Peruvian coast, driven by the desire to explore the world. Although he was originally attracted by the American dream, he found himself in Switzerland in 2001, lured by the proximity to his sister, who had been living in western Switzerland for years.
César's professional journey began in 2008 at the Hotel Bon Rivage, initially in the kitchen. But his unquenched wanderlust and the urge to learn new things soon led him to the garden. When Fogo, the hotel's long-serving gardener who had tended the garden for almost a century and a half, retired in 2010, César saw his chance to learn the profession from scratch.
Under Fogo's guidance, César spent two years learning the craft of gardening. He not only learned how to prune century roses, weed and care for fruit and flowering trees, but also how to grow vegetables - and introduced his own plant species as well as vegetable and herb varieties from his home country. His thirst for knowledge is unquenchable, nourished by the support of numerous partners and suppliers who share their expertise with him.
César's greatest joy is sharing his gardening knowledge with guests, especially when it comes to caring for roses. He enjoys it when visitors stroll through the garden, pausing to admire every flowering plant. He is particularly proud of delivering perfectly sized vegetables to the chef. But César finds his greatest happiness in the harmony of the garden, where every plant plays its part in the magic of this place.
Erholung vom Feinsten im Hotel Bon Rivage am Genfersee.