Gone are the days when chefs barely peeked their heads out from behind the kitchen pass. The evolution of chefs from behind-the-scenes artists to international culinary celebrities is transforming the way we experience food. Whether they are serving food personally to your table or donning microphones to share their ethos with the masses, we are eating it up. Their world has become ours, and we are hungry for it, and now it has become an intrinsic part of their profession. With the notoriety comes the travel—a requirement to present their food on the international stage. Recently, over 100 chefs from over 40 countries descended on Udine, in Northern Italy, for a phenomenal amalgamation—the XXIV edition of Ein Prosit. Amidst the gaiety of clinking glasses and rekindling acquaintances, I spoke with some of these recognized chefs to find out about their experiences and what it means for them to travel and cook in other parts of the world. When asked to cook at Quintonil restaurant … Continue reading
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A Truffle-infused journey at the Alba White Truffle Festival 2023
Ah, November—a month that brought me to the enchanting Alba White Truffle Festival 2023. The crisp air, the vibrant colours of fall, and the promise of culinary delights awaited me in the picturesque town of Alba. It was to be an experience filled with the symphony of flavours, insights, and the revelation of the delicate world of truffles. The Alba White Truffle World Market is the perfect place to appreciate and buy the best truffles from the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato woods. Cooking Show Extravaganza My journey began with a front-row seat at a cooking show featuring the talented Chef Michelangelo Mammoliti of La Rey Natura, Il Boscareto Resort & Spa. We were first presented with delicious Prosciutto Crudo di Cuneo, which was granted Protected Denomination of Origin status in 2009. About to enjoy green pasta with matcha tea ravioli prepared by Chef Michelangelo Mammoliti and his team Chef Michelangelo Mammoliti (pictured left) was awarded Best Chef of the … Continue reading
Maxime Collard is Belgium’s Gault&Millau chef of the year for 2024
BRUSSELS: Gault&Millau announced today Maxime Collard of restaurant La Table de Maxime in Paliseul as the chef of the year for 2024. In front of an audience of around 1,800 restauranteurs, journalists and partners, Gault&Millau launched the 21st edition of the BeLux guide which sold 30,000 copies in pre-sale. CEO Marc Declerck said that Maxime brings out the best the region has to offer and while his cuisine is classic it is also creative. “In all his dishes we find excellent techniques, respect for the seasons, aesthetics and respect for original flavours. We have been following this chef for 15 years and for his consistency and exemplary couse we are happy to nominate Maxime Collard as chef of the year 2024,” he said. The young chefs of the year are Marius Bosmans (Restaurant Arden - Rochefort) for Wallonia, Niels Brants (Restaurant EssenCiel - Leuven) for Flanders and Georges Athanassopoulos (Restaurant Màloma Comptoir Culinaire – Brussels) for the Brussels … Continue reading
The Best Chef Awards names Dabiz Munoz the world’s best chef for the third time in a row
Dabiz Munoz has been named The Best Chef for 2023 for the third consecutive year. The announcement was made at the Yucatan International Congress during an award ceremony where the identities of the top 100 names were revealed. The reign of Dabiz Muñoz (DiverXO, Spain) continued. The free-spirited chef who is used to breaking the rules and exploring the limits of creativity in every project he undertakes placed in front of this edition's number two who also hails from Spain. He is none other than Albert Adrià (Enigma, Spain), who also wins one of the special prizes, The Best Chef New Entry Award as he enters directly into that position in his successful return to the list. Ana Roš, body and soul of Hiša Franko (Slovenia), completes the podium by rising from ninth to third place. Eight of the top 10 names come from Europe, five from Spain, one from Slovenia and two from Denmark with the remaining two names hailing from the US and Chile respectively. The top 10 are the … Continue reading
Rasmus Munk launches innovation centre Spora with aim to revolutionise food industry
COPENHAGEN: After establishing acclaimed restaurant Alchemist and putting it at the forefront of gastronomical innovation, Rasmus Munch has unveiled Spora. The investment in this research lab together with bioscience pioneers Claus Christiansen and Bente Christiansen will focus on changing the world through gastronomy. With a seed investment of EUR 1.5 million, Spora is the natural evolution of Alchemist. "By allowing the search for deliciousness to lead technology, instead of the other way around, we can play a pivotal role in developing nutritious, and sustainable products that people want to eat again and again – and that will drive global change. I firmly believe that we can harness the vibrancy and inventiveness of the restaurant and bring it out to the public," said Rasmus Munk. The chef is known for creating dishes that are otherwise considered inedible or waste from farmed butterflies, jellyfish, lamb’s brains, and pig’s windpipes. The restaurant is currently ranked … Continue reading
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Two month residency in Swiss Alps for Jordnaer
Eric Vildgaard and Tina Kragh Vildgaard of Danish restaurant Jordnaer will do a two months residency at the iconic Badrutt's Palace Hotel in St Moritz from 1 December to 4 February. "It is an honour for us to be able to cook in a historic, world-class hotel as renowned as Badrutt's Palace. We approach this next challenge with a lot of respect and excitement. It will be a type of fine dining cuisine that the Engadine has yet to see," said Eric Vildgaard. "Love can be shared and expressed in many ways and one of the ways I have found is through cooking. It allows me to convey a range of emotions to my guests. I approach my work through a … Continue reading
Dennis Huwaë of Amsterdam restaurant Daalder for October pop-up in Copenhagen
Dennis Huwaë from Amsterdam restaurant Daalder will be changing location from October 13 to 5 November as he moves from the 'Venice of the North' to the Japanese Tower of the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen for a pop-up. Huwaë will take his cuisine which won him accolades to Copenhagen where he will be showcasing two tasting menus. Daalder is an unusual establishment that embodies the essence of modern Dutch cuisine with a twist. Chef Dennis Huwaë has created his own personal style, one that reflects his city, his Moluccan roots and his limitless and colourful imagination, reasons why he won as the Most Promising Chef by Gault … Continue reading
Carlo Cracco to open restaurant in Rome at the Corinthia
ROME: Italian chef Carlo Cracco will be venturing to Rome for the first time in his career as he opens a restaurant that will serve breakfast to dinner at the Corinthia Rome hotel which is set to open early next year. This is also the first hotel in Italy for the Corinthia group. "Although the restaurant will be in a hotel, it will be a space that is open to everyone. And it will not be just a restaurant. We want to do the same as we did at the Galleria in Milan offering a service that starts with breakfast in the morning and ends late in the evening," Carlo Cracco said to La Repubblica. He said that he felt it was the right time to … Continue reading
GELINAZ! and the next frontier: No more background music in restaurants
GELINAZ! has a habit of pushing barriers when it comes to gastronomy. It has always been way ahead of the curve in pretty much all events organised over the years. At a time when four-hands dinners became more common than mosquito bites on a late summer afternoon in the Mediterranean GELINAZ! came up with the stay at home shuffle. Now, GELINAZ! is ready to launch the next frontier in the world of gastronomy and that is for what many is an afterthought in restaurants: Music. GELINAZ! curator Andrea Petrini, a food writer par excellence has often contended that while restaurants give full attention to detail from food to service, … Continue reading
Central in Lima is World’s 50 Best Restaurants top restaurant for 2023
VALENCIA: Central, the flagship Lima restaurant of chefs Virgilio Martinez and Pía León was crowned the top restaurant in the World taking over from last year’s winner Geranium in Copenhagen which now goes to the Best of the Best hall of fame and makes it no longer eligible to compete for the list next year. But that is not bad news for the Peruvian gastronomy power couple who also have a second restaurant in the top 50 position at 28. For many years, Central has hovered in the top positions of the list but never made it until this year to the top. It placed second last year, confirming the recent practice that second-placed restaurants … Continue reading
Charity dinner and auction at Brussels restaurant Racines to help region of Emilia Romagna
BRUSSELS: On Thursday 22 June, Racines in Brussels will be organising a fund-raising dinner in aid of the Emilia Romagna region which was hit by dramatic flooding last month. All proceeds from the dinner will go to there Don Pasquale Gentili association. The restaurant will be serving a four course menu inspired by the gastronomic culture of the region which will be prepared by one of the team members Mattia Zucchini, who hails from Emilia Romagna and chef Ugo Federico. The dinner costs 80 euros and will cover the personnel costs of the restaurants. All the rest of the proceeds will go towards the region. A Belgian wine importer of … Continue reading
Le Coq aux Champs celebrates 20 year anniversary
Le Coq aux Champs, a restaurant in Soheit-Tinlot, Belgium celebrated its 20th anniversary this week. Christophe and Catherine Pauly said that despite the fact that many of their dreams have come true from a Michelin star to the title of Gault&Millau chef of the year, the publication of a recipe book, 4 hands dinners with exceptional chefs and many other achievements they still have the same feeling of the first day which is that “we still have a lot to do.” Over the past 20 years and 7,300 days they have been open for more than 10,000 services. “Our objective has remained the same which is to share our love of gastronomy, good food … Continue reading
12 new entries in World’s 50 Best Restaurants 51-100 list
Mauro Colagreco breaks into list with restaurant Ceto after making it to Best of the Best with Mirazur There are 12 new entries in the 51-100 list that was unveiled today 8 June. The list was revealed ahead of the annual awards ceremony taking place in Valencia on 20 June. In the 21st year of the awards, the extended ranking showcases restaurants across five continents. The list is the result of votes from the 1,080 voters from renowned international chefs and food journalists to travelling gastronomes – who create The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 list being revealed in less than two weeks’ time. But the biggest news is clearly … Continue reading
Alberto Landgraf’s Bossa to open in London this month
LONDON: Brazilian chef Alberto Landgraf of two-Michelin starred Oteque in Rio de Janeiro will be opening his first debut London restaurant later this month on 24 May. Bossa is located in the heart of London between Mayfair and Marylebone and will bring the soul of Brazil to the British capital. Oteque is considered to be one of the top restaurants around the world and is currently placed at 47 in the World's 50 Best list. Alberto will bring his expertise as well as his core team from Brazil to London's dining scene. London is a city close to Alberto's heart as it is where his he first got experience working with the likes of Gordon … Continue reading
Andreas Krolik of Lafleur to pop-up at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen
After the success of Suculent’s pop-up which is still ongoing at the Japanese tower of Tivoli Gardens in the centre of Copenhagen, it will be the turn of Andreas Krolik to showcase his love for deep and complex green flavours between June 2 and July 2. Andreas Krolik, chef of 2 Michelin starred Lafleur will be the chef to succeed Toni Romero’s pop-up of Barcelona favourite Suculent which ends on May 27. Krolik said: “We are very excited and proud to be able to present Lafleur in one of the culinary capitals of the world. Our guests can except a great experience with high aromatic and flavourful dishes which we always combine with … Continue reading
Fredrik Berselius: “You must keep moving to remain relevant”
NEW YORK: Fredrik Berselius might be the renowned chef and owner of restaurant Aska in Brooklyn, New York but it was not necessarily what he aimed to do in life. “Growing up, I wanted to be a professional snowboarder. I never imagined that I might one day become a chef as much as I loved food.” That feeling of being constantly in motion to be able to remain relevant may come from going down those snowy hillsides in the middle of nature with his friends. He considers these to be the best memories of his childhood but moving forward and improving on a daily basis is what keeps him going. It was his sister, Michaela (now married to renowned … Continue reading
Noma Projects launches dashi syrup
Noma Projects will launch a dashi syrup reduction next week. This is yet another product to come out of the Noma Projects kitchen. The dashi syrup will be released for sale on May 11. The savoury syrup packs layers of flavour from the sea and is used to drizzle on roast vegetables, steamed fish, eggs or steamed rice. As part of the launch, Noma Projects is also selling a tool that works with the Dashi RDX. It is a brush that is one of the favourite utensils of Noma in the kitchen to finish seasoning any dish. "We have a huge appreciation for the attention and craftsmanship of kitchen utensils in Japan. So, for this launch we have … Continue reading
Pía León opens news restaurant Mauka at the Palacio Nazarenes in Cusco
CUSCO: Pía León has opened her new restaurant, Mauka at the Palacio Nazarenes, a Belmond hotel in Cusco. Named after an endangered Incan root vegetable, Mauka is an ode to the bounty of Cusquenian cuisine and its diverse produce, from the Andean mountains to the Amazon rainforest. At its core, Pía’s vision is to preserve Peruvian culture, transcending local gastronomy, curating moments to learn and experience the true root and origin of Andean cuisine. Together with local farmers and artisans, Pía and her team continue her culinary legacy, incorporating Cusco’s history and biodiversity into the restaurant’s DNA, with menu items such as … Continue reading
Chef Fatih Tutak and The Peninsula Istanbul to open Gallada Restaurant and Topside Bar in June 2023
ISTANBUL: Chef Fatih Tutak, of Istanbul’s acclaimed restaurant Turk Fatih Tutak, the first Turkish restaurant to be awarded two Michelin stars will take the helm as chef director at Gallada Restaurant and Topside Bar from early June 2023. This will be a collaboration with The Peninsula Istanbul which opened in Istanbul on 14 February 2023. The Turkish born chef has created menus that celebrate a contemporary Turk-Asian cuisine, inspired by Fatih's professional journey from Turkey through China to SouthEast Asia, and back. His dishes are refined, and intuitively perceptive with a focus on the myriad culinary skills and techniques shared … Continue reading
Elena Reygadas is 2023 World’s Best female chef
One of the most important figures in Mexican gastronomy and chef owner of Rosetta in Mexico City, Elena Reygadas has been awarded the World’s 50 Best Restaurant’s 2023 Female chef of the year. She was Latin America’s Best Female Chef in 2014 and since then Reygadas has become one of the most important figures within Mexican gastronomy. A passionate advocate for Mexican biodiversity and sustainable production, she has recently launched a female-focused scholarship programme in Mexico with the aim to promote greater gender parity in kitchens. With the goal of championing equal opportunities and strengthening the leadership of Mexican women … Continue reading
Syrco Bakker to open two restaurants in Bali and the Netherlands
SLUIS/UBUD: Syrco Bakker, chef of two Michelin star restaurant Pure C will open a new restaurant in Ubud, Bali this autumn. While on the Indonesian island, he will simultaneously continue work on the renovation of a listed building in Sluis. Once completed, in around 18 months to 2 years, he plans to open a small-scale gourmet restaurant and atelier with his own bakery and farm shop where people can also enjoy breakfast and lunch. On 29 April, Syrco Bakker will cook for the last time at Pure C in Cadzand. Having announced his departure from the two-star restaurant in December, he decided to continue the journey as an entrepreneur and … Continue reading
Highlights
To offer happiness you need to be happy – Pablo Sacerdotte
BARCELONA: Two days after ABAC had clinched three Michelin stars, Pablo Sacerdotte, the maitre d’ of the restaurant had already quit. “We got the three Michelin stars on 23 November and on 25 November I quit. It was the end of the journey for me,” the Argentinian told Food and Wine Gazette. He had decided that the world of fine dining was over for him, tired of working seven days a week. “It is difficult to create new things when you are open seven days a week and you are constantly trying to train people,” he tells me. What lured him … Continue reading
Iris, a spectacular restaurant in a floating Salmon Eye to open in Norway under the helm of Anika Madsen
NORWAY: Restaurant Iris, with Danish Chef Anika Madsen at the helm will open its doors later this spring inside the glittering floating orb Salmon Eye in the Hardanger fjord. It will take guests on an exclusive expedition dining-journey which is impossible to replicate anywhere else. The experience center Salmon Eye, themed on sustainable marine life, was inaugurated in 2022. The stunning double-curved ellipsoid design is inspired by the shape of a fisheye, and the silvery orb-structure seems to be floating in the Hardanger fiord, exposed to … Continue reading
Suculent in five-week pop-up in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN: A bright, theatre-like sign marks the way to enter Suculent, located in the exotic, bohemian Raval-area of the Catalan capital. An area that’s fast, colourful, passionate, artistic and full of flavour. There, Antonio 'Toni' Romero has combined all those ingredients and reduced them to create dishes that after a decade of success, still keep wowing local and international guests. Now, the soul of Barcelona will move into The Japanese Tower of magical Tivoli Gardens in the heart of Copenhagen as Antonio … Continue reading
Kristian Baumann’s “Koan” opens its doors in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN: After two successful pop-ups, Kristian Baumann, is opening restaurant “Koan” on Tuesday, April 4, at Copenhagen's waterfront. His menu will feature a Korean-inspired tasting menu, part of a kitchen philosophy that reflects a culinary point of view where traditional Korean cooking techniques and flavours meet with Nordic ingredients. "For the past seven years, my curiosity about my birth place South Korea has grown stronger and I have tried to go on a discovery in the country to learn more about its culture, history, people … Continue reading
Alexandre Mazzia: “I need adrenaline to be creative”
Alexandre Mazzia is used to high performance. So when in the middle of the pandemic he clinched a third Michelin star for the restaurant AM par Alexandre Mazzia it was not necessarily a surprise for him despite the fact that it came in a record six years. He has always set the bar high for himself. As a former professional basketball player he knew that he could count on a number of skills he learnt in sport that applied not only in life but also in his career as a restauranteur and chef. Focus was one such lesson. But another was the … Continue reading
7 chefs join forces for special fund-raising activity in aid of Antoine Alléno Association at Écriture
HONG KONG: On Thursday 23 March at Écriture, Maxime Gilbert will host a special chef collaboration dinner, pre-cocktail event and an auction to raise funds for the Antoine Alléno Association. Seven chefs, including Yannick Alleno, the father of Antoine who died tragically at age 24, will cook together in a unique dinner josted by Maxime Gilbert. He is uniting chefs who first worked together in the kitchen of Le Meurice 18 years ago. During this time, the restaurant achieved three Michelin stars under the direction of Yannick Alleno. For … Continue reading
Best grillers in the world to convene in Barcelona for Meat & Fire festival
BARCELONA: Some of the world’s best grillers will convene in Barcelona between 2, 3 and 4 June for the first Meat & Fire festival to be held in Barcelona. Held at the Moll de la Fusta in the Port Vell, it will occupy an area of 6,000 square metres where for three days a 45 of the best grillers in the world will be on 30 grills and attendees will be able to taste dishes made with different cuts of meat. At Meat & Fire there will be different spaces within the festival itself: shared spaces set up for attendees, outdoor bars, stages … Continue reading
Simon Rogan takes over ION Harbour in Malta
VALLETTA: Renowned British chef Simon Rogan is the new chef patron of Ion Harbour, one of six 1 Michelin star restaurants on the Mediterranean island. Chef of 3 Michelin star restaurant L'Enclume in the Lake District, Simon Rogan has built a restaurant empire that today includes 9 restaurants in Lake District, London, Hong Kong and now Malta. Over the past 20 years, Simon has built not only a restaurant but also a sustainably-operated farm known as Our Farm but also nine award-winning restaurants. While Simon Rogan is chef patron, the … Continue reading
‘This is one of the best days of my life’ – Karen Torosyan as Bozar finally clinches 2 Michelin stars
MONS: Yes! Yes! Karen Torosyan shouted on stage in Mons yesterday after it sank in that he had finally clinched a second Michelin star. Five years ago, the Armenian chef took over Bozar Restaurant from his mentor David Martin and has been working hard to reach this achievement. And there was no one better to announce the two Michelin stars than David Martin of Brussels restaurant La Paix who looked emotional as he announced the only two Michelin star restaurant to make the grade in 2023 for Belgium and Luxembourg. The embrace between the two … Continue reading
Alexandre Couillon clinches third Michelin star for restaurant La Marine
STRASBOURG: Alexandre Couillon was the only chef to clinch a third Michelin star for his restaurant La Marine when the Michelin Guide announced its results for 2023 at a ceremony today in Strasbourg. Observers were curious to see what the guide would announce following the decision to remove the third star from Guy Savoy and Christopher Coutanceau which was announced the previous week. Today there are 29 restaurants in France that have three Michelin stars, a decrease of two restaurants compared to the previous year. In total there are 630 … Continue reading
Hélène Darroze launches burger concept Jòia Bun in Paris
PARIS: Internationally acclaimed chef Hélène Darroze will launch her new concept Jòia Bun, tomorrow March 7 in the 2nd Arrondissement in Paris. Located only a few hundred metres from her already popular bistro, Jòia, Jòia Bun is the result of a successful venture she explored during the Covid lockdown of 2020-21. "During the pandemic, when restaurants were closed, my team and I launched a takeaway and delivery pop-up of premium burgers called Jòia Burger. A casual, adapted and extended offering, in line with our values and vision of … Continue reading
Care’s on Tour returns home
The second part of the event co-founded by chef Norbert Niederkofler returned to Bruneck in South Tyrol after its success in Venice. The event which brought together over 200 guests was held in Burdock and Kronplatz among the snowy peaks of AlpiNN - Food Space and Restaurant where the foundation is located. The international sustainability event, created by Norbert Niederkofler and Paolo Ferretti is based on Niederkofler’s Cook the Mountain philosophy. Chefs and guests will focus on questions like how to reduce waste and protect such … Continue reading
Fernando is the new one Michelin star restaurant in Malta
VALLETTA: In a week where the Michelin Guide announced rather unusually to the world that two of France’s three Michelin star restaurants had been stripped of their third star, it was also time for the new announcements in Malta. Fernando Gastrotheque, a restaurant in Sliema is the sixth restaurant in Malta to clinch a Michelin star. The restaurant’s chef is Laszlo Sragli who made a name for himself around Malta but who has also gained experience working in top restaurants around Europe and Asia. The five restaurants that were awarded one … Continue reading
End of an era for Hof Van Cleve as restaurant to change hands at the end of the year: Peter Goossens to pass over the helm to Floris Van Der Veken
Peter Goossens and his wife Lieve Fermans have announced that they will quit the highly acclaimed Belgian restaurant Hof Van Cleve which has been open since 1986 at the end of 2023. Considered to be the contemporary father of Belgian cuisine, Peter Goossens will pass on the helm of the restaurant to his executive chef Floris Van Der Veken who will change his role to becoming the owner of the restaurant and its over 20 staff. The restaurant, one of only 3 Michelin star restaurants in Belgium and one of very few restaurants in … Continue reading
St Hubertus in Italy to close in March: Future of three Michelin star restaurant unknown
SAN CASSIANO: The St Hubertus, a three Michelin star restaurant will close for refurbishment at the end of March and it is unlikely to reopen in its current format. Speaking about the closure of the restaurant, Norbert Niederkofler, executive chef of the restaurant the the Hotel Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano said that the closure for renovation of the restaurant is a consequence of the owner's decision to renovate the hotel in which it is located. The chef had helped reshape the restaurant from a humble mountain village restaurant into one of … Continue reading
Noma to close in winter 2024: ‘To continue being Noma we must change’ – René Redzepi
COPENHAGEN: Noma, one of the most influential restaurants if not the most influential restaurant in the world will close in winter 2024 for good as chef René Redzepi pledges to transform the restaurant into a giant lab - a pioneering test kitchen dedicated to work on food innovation and the development of new flavours. Winter 2024 will be the last season of noma following which Redzepi and his team will start a new chapter with what he calls noma 3.0. "In 2025, our restaurant is transforming into a giant lab - a pioneering test kitchen … Continue reading
untitled. is name of new bar at The Jane Antwerp
ANTWERP: After several successful pop-ups, the Upper Room Bar at The Jane Antwerp will undergo a complete makeover in early 2023. Called untitled. the space will have a new interior, a new chef, longer opening hours and an attractive price tag. Chef Nick Bril has entrusted Joeri Timmermans as the bar's new chef. Together they will create a playful and rustic menu with flavours that will be a bit more powerful than those used at The Jane. untitled. join's Antwerp's Groen Kwartier, a cost hideout offering something quick for an hour and a half … Continue reading
Syrco Bakker to embark on new culinary experience as he sets to leave Pure C in spring
CADZAND: After 12 years at the helm of Pure C, Syrco Bakker will embark on a new culinary and entrepreneurial journey as he parts ways with his mentor and chef Sergio Herman. The Dutch chef has been working with Herman for over 15 years having started at 3 Michelin Star Oud Sluis before taking the helm at Pure C. "Gratitude and pride prevail when I think about 15 years working with Sergio Herman. I have been able to develop optimally and mature. Now I am ready to write my own story. After obtaining two Michelin stars, an 18/20 Gault & … Continue reading
How can provocation, displeasure and disgust be integrated into a restaurant experience
COPENHAGEN: On November 15, the disruptive and rebellious culinary universes of Andoni Luis Aduriz of Mugaritz and Rasmus Munk of Alchemist will come together for a one-day-only experimental dining experience in Copenhagen. But while the event that is being hosted at Alchemist sold out within minutes, there is the possibility to explore Andoni Luis Aduriz's vision at a public talk that is being held in Copenhagen on November 14. At the talk entitled Beyond the plate, the two chefs, their teams and guest speakers will explore how … Continue reading
Nick Bril is Belgium Gault & Millau Chef of the Year
BRUSSELS: Nick Bril, chef and owner of iconic Antwerp restaurant The Jane is the new Belgian chef of the year according to Gault & Millau which launched its 2023 guide today. The Dutch chef has crowned a year which has seen him climb the rankings of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, launch a music project and feature in a Brussels pop-up with this prestigious title. “As a passionate chef, Nick Bril likes to lead his guests to a special experience. With an 18.5 rating, he has the gift as a chef of being innovative and in doing so he … Continue reading
Humus x Hortense invite Emile van den Staak from De Nieuwe Winkel for plant-based feast
BRUSSELS: Humus x Hortense in Brussels has fast established itself in Belgium as one of the leading, if not the leading proponent of plant-based fine dining in Belgium. The visionary couple Nicolas Decloedt and Caroline Baerten started their concept in 2008 and today have won accolades not only in Belgium but also outside of Belgium for their vision and direction. So it was no surprise that for the first ever Belgian gastronomic tour on plant-based dining, Humus x Hortense would play a central role. Visit Flanders recently hosted a four day … Continue reading
Bar Bulot to move from Bruges to Zedelgem
ZEDELGEM: "When one door closes, another opens." Gert de Mangeleer and Joachim Boudens, the duo behind the successful Hertog Jan Group have announced that Bar Bulot, their bistrot/brasserie concept of traditional Belgian/French food will be moving from Sint Michiels in Bruges to the former location of Hertog Jan in Zedelgem. The location of the current Bar Bulot was until today the cradle of the group's activities. It was there that Hertog Jan grew from an ambitious young restaurant to three Michelin stars. It was there that the Belgian dup … Continue reading
Noma to pop-up in Kyoto for 10 weeks in spring next year – ‘what if it all started from a cup of tea?’
COPENHAGEN: Noma will set foot in Japan for a second time, this time in the city of Kyoto. The 10-week pop-up will take place between March 15 and May 20 at the Ace Hotel, Kyoto. And the foundations are being set for the transformation of noma as we know it in 2024. René Redzepi said that for the past two years, they had been studying, travelling and researching the city of Kyoto and the Kansai region, in particular kaiseki cuisine. “This spring, we return to the place where so much of our own journey began.” René Redzepi, chef of noma, … Continue reading
Dine with Italian winemakers is a series of dinners organised by Racines Bruxelles
BRUSSELS: Ugo Frederico and Francesco Cury has invited winemaker Alessandra Divella for a special dinner at Racines in Brussels, Belgium. The Italian wine maker who is known as the queen of bubbles on Gussago Hill in Franciacorta will be presenting a selection of her cuvées on Thursday 20 October in a first in a series of dinners being organised by the restaurant with winemakers present. There will be two options during each evening. The first is to taste a classic Racines 4, 5 or six course menu with the possibility of a unique Divella … Continue reading
“Time dictates what we do. We cook with time” – Fatih Tutak
ISTANBUL: The decision for Fatih Tutak to return to his home and open TURK after spending the best part of his career outside Turkey was vindicated this week when he was the first ever Turkish restaurant to clinch two Michelin stars when the French guide released the first ever guide for Turkey. Born in Istanbul in 1985, Fatih may have learned his trade in Turkey and worked in some of the country's best hotels and restaurants including the Ritz-Carlton Cam in Istanbul under famed chef Paul Pairet. it was here that he decided he needed to … Continue reading
Pekarna Ana, Ana Roš’s new project in Ljubljana
LJUBLJANA: Ana Roš, the Slovenian chef who has managed to put Slovenia on the global gastronomic map thanks to her culinary work at Hisa Franko has embarked on a new project opening a bakery in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana. Pekarna Ana is a new boutique bakery which opened its doors earlier this month as Ana Roš offers a glimpse into her world of creativity at Kobarid and Hisa Franko. In this project, she has joined forces with one of the prominent representatives of modern European bread baking Nataša Đurić and Anže Kranjec the young … Continue reading
The reinvention of Mélisse, a Santa Monica institution
LOS ANGELES: The Last Days of Roger Federer: and other endings by Geoff Dyer is what came to mind when I came across the story of Mélisse, Josiah Citrin and Ian Scaramuzza. It is about endings, about choosing the best moment to step back and let the future take over. We very rarely know when it is the time to stop, when it is time to move on, when it is time for a big change. More often than not, and that has been the case in sports, in top-level careers, in art and even in restaurants, many don’t judge the moment to stop. But Josiah Citrin … Continue reading
Franceschetta 58 goes on tour
MODENA: Franceschetta 58, the bistro of Osteria Francescana led by chef Francesco Vincenzi has announced it will be going on tour in Florence, Rome and Torino. The bistro, opened by Massimo Bottura in his home town Modena to complement his three Michelin star Osteria Francescana will welcome Italian chef Marco Ambrosino on 28 September in Modena. Marco Ambrosino was the first chef of the Milan restaurant that has been the talk of the town 28 Posti before leaving to return back to the south of Italy earlier this year. Ambrosino will be … Continue reading
Jordy Navarra to cook at L.E.S.S. Eatery next week for second Chef’s Invitation
BRUGES: When Gert de Mangeleer together with Ruige Vermeire, the head chef of L.E.S.S. Eatery invited Hiroyasu Kawate of Florilege and Susumu Shimizu of Anis from Tokyo for the first event called Chef’s Invitation little did they know that it would take more than two and a half years for the next event to take place. The first such event was held at L.E.S.S. Eatery in Bruges on Wednesday 29 and January 30, 2020. A few weeks later, the world would nearly come to a standstill as the start of the COVID-19 pandemic brought travel to a … Continue reading
Sebath Capela is in his ‘Elements’ at Indrani Lodge
Sebath Capela, one of Belgium’s promising young chefs is finally ready to showcase his new playground. At Elements, a new restaurant within Indrani Lodge a few kilometres away from the landmark lion monument in Waterloo, Belgium he is improvising with nature and all its elements to serve a very interesting menu focused on vegetables grown on the property and protein that comes from small farms close to the restaurant. Elements is part of a project created by Philippe and Jessica Brawermann, a couple who bought a farm in the Belgian … Continue reading
Italy and United States share top spot for pizzeria of the year but pizza maker of the year goes to Peppe Cutraro of Peppe Pizzeria in Paris
Peppe Cutraro of Peppe Pizzeria in Paris was awarded with the pizza maker of the year award. Meanwhile Francesco Martucci's I Masanielli in Caserta and Anthony Mangieri's Una Pizza Napoletana in New York have tied for the best pizzeria in the world. The results were unveiled by the 50 Top Pizza list released at the Palazzo Reale in Naples. Third place went to Giuseppe Cutraro's Peppe Pizzeria in Paris. This was the first time that a 50 Top Pizza World list was compiled. 50 Kalo and 10 Diego Vitagliano Pizzeria in Naples captured fourth … Continue reading
Racines introduces a popular pasta dish for Friday lunch
BRUSSELS: Racines, a restaurant that has established itself as one of the best Italian restaurants in Brussels, if not Belgium is introducing a new concept for Friday lunch. Since last Friday, friends Ugo Frederico and Francesco Cury have introduced what they call 'la pasta popolare del venerdi' or a traditional and popular pasta that they will serve each Friday. The first pasta dish last week was Rigatoni alla Gricia, a popular dish from Roman cuisine which is made with rigatoni, pecorino romano, black pepper and guanciale. They will … Continue reading
JP McMahon and Drigin Gaffey announce closure of Tartare
GALWAY: JP McMahon, a leading Irish chef that has helped to place Ireland on the global culinary map with his restaurant Aniar and one of the best food events in the world Food on the Edge has announced the closure of Tartare after five years. In a press statement, JP said running three restaurants has been very difficult since COVID-19. He said he particularly found the shortage of good quality chefs very challenging. "Energy and labour costs have spiralled in 2022 and the sustainability of our business is challenging. With having the other … Continue reading
‘CODA is my point of view on desserts. It is the beginning of something great for the pastry world’ – René Frank 
René Frank: Setting the bar for pastry chefs around the world BERLIN: Pastry chef René Frank is riding the crest of the wave. Just last month, he was recognised as the best pastry chef in the world. But that is the last in a series of awards and accolades that he has been clinching since completing his training as a pastry chef in 2004. He's worked around the world but he is mostly known for creating a two Michelin star dessert restaurant in Berlin, the first ever such restaurant in Germany and one of very few such restaurants in the … Continue reading
Alberto Landgraf to open restaurant in London
LONDON: Fresh from his success at the World's 50 Best restaurants awards which were announced in London earlier this week, Alberto Landgraf, chef of restaurant Oteque in Rio de Janeiro has announced the opening of a new restaurant in London later this year. His restaurant placed in 47th place in the 2022 edition, an impressive result given the pandemic and the lack of travel over the past few years. Since its opening Oteque has won all accolades quickly reaching the 100th spot in the World's 50 Best Restaurants list in its first year of … Continue reading
Christophe Hardiquest restarts with La Mere Germaine in Chateauneuf-du-Pape and will reopen Bon Bon in November
Christophe Hardiquest, the Belgian chef who closed restaurant Bon Bon at the end of June will take over the helm of La Mere Germaine, a restaurant in Chateauneuf-du-Pape in France. He has also announced that he will be reopening Bon Bon, the two Michelin star restaurant in Brussels but with a new format. The chef shocked the Brussels culinary scene earlier this year when he announced the closure of restaurant Bon Bon to pursue other projects. He had said that he wanted to create new projects and not necessarily put all his focus and energy … Continue reading
Geranium is top restaurant in World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 list
LONDON: Restaurant Geranium in Copenhagen was crowned the World’s 50 Best Restaurant no 1 for 2022. at the award ceremony in London on July 18. Led by chef Rasmus Kofoed, the top award was somewhat expected after the restaurant placed second to Noma in the list in October of last year. Speaking on the award, Rasmus said he had prepared a few words in case magic happened and said that magic had indeed happened. The Danish chef of restaurant Geranium thanked his team and his wife for their constant support saying that when the restaurant … Continue reading
‘Working hard to feed the soul’: Andreas Krolik serving an haute cuisine vegan menu in the green heart of an urban jungle
FRANKFURT: With all the accolades that Andreas Krolik has received you would think that he would be a household name. Two Michelin stars, a 19 out of 20 rating in Gault & Millau which places him firmly among the world's great chefs as well as the chef of the year title in 2017, Andreas, chef of Frankfurt based restaurant Lafleur prefers to let his cooking do the talking. Since 2014, way before vegetable-based cuisine became the trend of the day, Andreas has been serving a vegan menu alongside a normal menu where he extracts all the … Continue reading
20 new restaurants in 51-100 list of World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022
There are 20 new restaurants from 15 different cities in the list of restaurants ranked from 51st to 100th ahead of the annual awards ceremony that takes place on Monday 18 July in London. The highest new entry on the list is Trèsind Studio, Dubai, UAE at No.57 Asia has 14 entries in the ranking this year spread across seven cities including: Mingles, Seoul (No.71), Fu He Hui, Shanghai (No.64), Neighborhood, Hong Kong (No.76) and Wing, Hong Kong (No.100), and two restaurants from Japan – Sazenka (No.59) and new entry Sézanne … Continue reading
Jeremy Chan: Food doesn’t need to be described or talked about but eaten
LONDON: The success that Jeremy Chan has had over the past few years has been nothing short of astonishing. Nevertheless, it is not surprising given his determination to improve in every step of his journey. His restaurant Ikoyi opened in 2017 and he has been winning one accolade after the other. Spotted first by the World Restaurant Awards in 2019, the restaurant was named the One to Watch by the World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2021 and this year was awarded two Michelin stars. But, the self-taught chef who graduated in languages and … Continue reading