ABOUT
Experience is the part of education that no book or lecture can replace. It is practice that transforms knowledge into results.
Svetlana Belousova
We believe that true learning is impossible without real practice.
PROJECT HISTORY
The story of SB Culinary Center began with the personal and professional journey of its founder, Svetlana Belousova.
In the early 1990s, as the first student from the former USSR, she continued her education at the University of Barcelona, dedicating her thesis to the gastronomic terminology of the Spanish language. This marked the beginning of her deep connection with Spain’s culinary culture.
Svetlana’s professional path included over a decade in international trade, followed by her work at the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry of Spain, where she coordinated national programs promoting Spanish gastronomy worldwide.
Through years of experience and observation of the culinary scene’s evolution, Svetlana realized that young professionals from CIS countries had almost no access to contemporary practices — especially in the field of avant-garde Spanish cuisine. In 2013, after completing personal internships in several Michelin-starred restaurants, she founded SB Culinary Center.
During the project’s early years, SBCC focused primarily on gastro tours and organizing chefs’ participation in the international Madrid Fusión congress. Since 2015, the center has been consistently arranging professional internships for chefs in Spain, and by 2025, the SBCC team expanded its programs to Portugal.
In the early 1990s, as the first student from the former USSR, she continued her education at the University of Barcelona, dedicating her thesis to the gastronomic terminology of the Spanish language. This marked the beginning of her deep connection with Spain’s culinary culture.
Svetlana’s professional path included over a decade in international trade, followed by her work at the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry of Spain, where she coordinated national programs promoting Spanish gastronomy worldwide.
Through years of experience and observation of the culinary scene’s evolution, Svetlana realized that young professionals from CIS countries had almost no access to contemporary practices — especially in the field of avant-garde Spanish cuisine. In 2013, after completing personal internships in several Michelin-starred restaurants, she founded SB Culinary Center.
During the project’s early years, SBCC focused primarily on gastro tours and organizing chefs’ participation in the international Madrid Fusión congress. Since 2015, the center has been consistently arranging professional internships for chefs in Spain, and by 2025, the SBCC team expanded its programs to Portugal.
FOUNDER
Svetlana Belousova holds a PhD in History, a degree in Spanish Philology, and an MBA in Interpersonal Psychology.
Since 2003, she has specialized in the history of Spain, its gastronomic culture, and cultural connections with Latin America. Since 2005, she has been a regular participant in major international gastronomic congresses, including Gastronomika (San Sebastián) and Madrid Fusión (Madrid).
In 2013, Svetlana founded SB Culinary Center, combining her extensive professional experience in the restaurant and hospitality industries with her academic research interests. Under her leadership, the project has become an international platform for advanced professional education in gastronomy and hospitality.
Her achievements include authoring the book “Foodpairing. The Flavor Map,” writing over 1,000 restaurant reviews across Spain and Portugal, and collaborating with leading European rating publications.
Her hands-on training in the kitchens of Dani García, Juan Mari Arzak, and Javier Aranda further strengthened her reputation as an expert capable of bridging academic knowledge with real-world culinary practice.
Today, Svetlana Belousova continues to lead SB Culinary Center, inspiring a new generation of professionals to reach international career heights.
Since 2003, she has specialized in the history of Spain, its gastronomic culture, and cultural connections with Latin America. Since 2005, she has been a regular participant in major international gastronomic congresses, including Gastronomika (San Sebastián) and Madrid Fusión (Madrid).
In 2013, Svetlana founded SB Culinary Center, combining her extensive professional experience in the restaurant and hospitality industries with her academic research interests. Under her leadership, the project has become an international platform for advanced professional education in gastronomy and hospitality.
Her achievements include authoring the book “Foodpairing. The Flavor Map,” writing over 1,000 restaurant reviews across Spain and Portugal, and collaborating with leading European rating publications.
Her hands-on training in the kitchens of Dani García, Juan Mari Arzak, and Javier Aranda further strengthened her reputation as an expert capable of bridging academic knowledge with real-world culinary practice.
Today, Svetlana Belousova continues to lead SB Culinary Center, inspiring a new generation of professionals to reach international career heights.
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN NUMBERS
290+
13
50+
10+
2
Internships completed
Participating countries
Partner restaurants and hotels
Our results reflect years of consistent work, international partnerships, and the trust of our participants.
Years of experience
Internship destinations
(Spain and Portugal
(Spain and Portugal
OUR PROGRAMS
For Chefs,
Pastry Chefs,
and Bakers
Pastry Chefs,
and Bakers
Discover the world of haute cuisine through hands-on training at some of the finest restaurants in Spain and Portugal
For Students and Graduates of Culinary and Hospitality Schools
Immerse yourself in the standards of premium service and management at restaurants and hotels in Spain and Portugal
Language Internships for Linguists
Hands-on language practice in the dining halls of top restaurants and 5-star hotels. Master the art of cross-cultural communication.
Gastro Tours
Exclusive signature culinary journeys with behind-the-scenes access to the world’s leading chefs and the secrets of gastronomically advanced destinations
CHEFS
who gained experience in Spain and Portugal
who gained experience in Spain and Portugal
Read all testimonials here