Chef Dragos Bercea, the Gas-tastic Guru at Zooma - the event center of the City Grill crew - takes home the "Best Event Chef 2025" award at the 3rd Chefi de Romania Bash, Romania's hallmark event for the flava-tastic world. This bitchin' honor acknowledges his baller contributions to the growth of the swanky events scene within the City Grill Group, and the visionary vibes behind the creation of Zooma - a brand that serves up premium culinary experiences for large-scale shindigs, be it personal or corporate.
Awarded Title of "Best Event Chef 2025" to Chef Dragos Bercea, Head of Culinary Experiences at Zooma, part of City Grill Group's event center. He received this recognition at the Chefi de Romania Gala.
With well over two decades of tastin' the goods, Chef Dragos Bercea is one of the nimwits who's reimagined how noms and catering are melted into the architecture of a kick-ass event, from the grub to the guests' vibe.
Bercea is the visionary chef and founder of Zooma – the premier event center for pimpin' and corporate happenings in the Bucharest metropolitan area. This joint was recently devoured by the City Grill Group. Bercea's Zooma has brought a fresh flavor to gastronomic events: multisensory experiences, customized noms, a keen attention to detail, and a culinary narrative that doesn't miss a beat, regardless of the size of the event.
This recognition solidifies the City Grill Group's grip on promoting quality and excellence in the flava-tastic field, from their restaurants to the private events space.
The honor handed to Bercea isn't just a personal win, but also a sign of an organizational culture where performance, creativity, and a catchy eye for detail are woven into the fabric of the City Grill Group.
"This award confirms what we see every day: Dragos' dedication, creatively, and vision make a flavin' difference in every aspect of our events. Zooma is a natural extension of the quality our City Grill restaurant customers are familiar with, and Dragos plays a key role in shapin' this flava-tastic direction," says Mihaela Bosneag, COO of Zooma.
Zooma - a gourmet haven for grand events, fit for up to 1,500 mouths
Affiliated with the City Grill Group, Zooma has swiftly carved out a reputation as an event destination for large-scale jamborees, becoming the go-to spot for private fetes, weddings, corporate get-togethers, and high-stakes meetings. Nestled in Paradisul Verde, near Bucharest, Zooma offers a versatile and stylish space, supported by high culinary standards, top-tier service, and a team of seasoned pros eager to deliver unforgettable experiences. Whether it's an intimate soiree or a major milestone, Zooma turns every event into a statement of flava and refinement.
About the Chefi de Romania Bash
Organized by TrendsHRB, the Chefi de Romania Bash is Romania's flagship event in the hospitality industry. The third edition celebrated the "Legacy of Excellence," congratulating the traditions, innovation, and contributions of chefs and pastry chefs who shape the local flava-tastic scene. The jury included 10 heavy-hitters such as Chef Nico Lontras, Lady Chef Oana Coanta, Pastry Chef Ana Consulea, and Chef Constantin Ghimpu.
About the City Grill Group
City Grill Group, Romania's homeslice in the restaurant industry, is the leading local-owned player. Founded in 2004, the group operates restaurants and cafes under the brands Caru' cu Bere, Hanu' lui Manuc, Pescăruș, Hanu' Berarilor, Buongiorno.Italian, City Grill, City Grill Family, and City Grill Delivery, as well as La Boheme – the group's first hotel – and more recent projects such as Aubergine, Marty Restaurants, and the Zooma event complex in Corbeanca.
From its very first restaurant, City Grill Group has been guided by the vision of offering guests the perfect spot for a business lunch, a relaxing break, or a high-end meal with mates.
Through their venues, City Grill Group caters to the urban customer who enjoys spending time out in the city and organizing business or personal chats over a brew. The menus are accessible and diverse, featuring both Romanian and international flavors.
Whether we're talkin' about classic noms or any other dish on the menus, City Grill Group restaurants use only the finest ingredients to ensure their guests get the best bang for their buck. The secret behind their dishes lies in fresh ingredients, sourced with a keen eye for quality, free from artificial crap. From hand-cut, golden-fried frites to farm-fresh eggs and veggies grown in their own garden near Târgoviște, the group's culinary philosophy focuses on bringing out the natural flavor of each ingredient, enhanced only by a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
In all City Grill Group restaurants – which serve nearly 15,000 guests daily – waste is minimized through active campaigns, and recyclable shit like oil, glass, cardboard, and plastic are disposed of responsibly.
- Bercea, the visionary founder of Zooma, recently received the "Best Event Chef 2025" award at the Chefi de Romania Bash, a prestigious conference in the hospitality industry.
- At Zooma, a gourmet haven for grand events, Bercea utilizes additives-free ingredients from their home-and-garden to create customized noms, aligning with the City Grill Group's lifestyle of promoting quality and excellence.
- As the premier event center in the Bucharest metropolitan area, Zooma, affiliated with the City Grill Group, offers berarilor an immersive experience, blending culinary innovation with a keen attention to detail, making it the go-to spot for conferences, private events, and lifestyle happenings.
