Star Chefs
Discover the fascinating world of Michelin-starred chefs in UK, USA, Mexico and worldwide. From creative geniuses to established top chefs – these star chefs elevate gastronomy to a whole new level.
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Carlos Gaytán: from dish washer to (Michelin) star
Carlos Gaytán made gastronomic history as the first Mexican chef ever awarded a Michelin star. Today, he is considered the most important ambassador for Mexican cuisine. How did this exceptional talent work his way up from the very bottom to the very top? A Hollywood story.
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Heston Blumenthal: Question everything
English star chef Heston Blumenthal is considered one of the most creative chefs in the world. His quest for multi-sensory adventures leads the “mad scientist” and visionary of molecular cuisine to the edge of his existence – but also back to life.
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Chef Gordon Ramsay: The good, the bad and the star
Gordon Ramsay is one of the few star chefs who have been successful for decades. And this in spite of ongoing, major criticism of his behavior. Why do people really love this "bad boy" among chefs so much?
Michelin-Starred Restaurants
London, Paris, Berlin – what do all these cities have in common? That’s right: Michelin-starred restaurants. Discover the most renowned Michelin restaurants around the world!
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Sollip: The secret of the South Korean Michelin-starred restaurant in London
Handcrafted tradition with a Korean twist – the star restaurant Sollip in London is proof that the umami effect you’re all seeking doesn't always have to be Japanese. How a South Korean cooking couple achieves this – and why it is about more than just craftsmanship.
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Esben Holmboe Bang from Maaemo: Norway’s quiet culinary king
With his restaurant Maaemo, Esben Holmboe Bang has revolutionized Norway’s gastronomy and is bringing New Nordic Cuisine to the world. Here's why the quiet Dane still doesn't care much about being in the limelight – and needs limitations to be really creative.
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Working with what’s there – sustainability in its extreme form
The Faroe Islands are known for their striking, rough ocean scenery and treeless, barren landscape. Not the right place for star gastronomy – or is it?
More International Top Chefs
Whether in the USA, France, Italy, or the UK – international Michelin-starred chefs can be found everywhere. Discover renowned top chefs like Eric Vildgaard, Grant Achatz, Daniel Humm, and many more around the world, and learn about their unique stories.
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The new incan gold – Peruvian cuisine: from blue corn to jungle fish
Peruvian food? Isn’t that just guinea pig and ceviche? Well, those, too. But there’s a lot more to it than that... which is why Peruvian fare has become such a big thing in the culinary world. Peruvian restaurants are popping up all over the place in major cities across the globe. Ceviche, Peru’s national dish of raw fish in citrus marinade, has been a staple in New York, London, and Paris for years now.
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Wild, honest, strong: Exceptional chef Lucki Maurer and a respect for life
Exceptional chef Ludwig “Lucki” Maurer fought his greatest battle at the beginning of his 20s. The adversary: Lymphoma, inoperable. The prognosis: bad. An item on the bucket list that got this young man through his agonizing chemo: To become celebrity chef like his idol Stephan Marquard, the 'Junge Wilde'. Today, a good 20 years later, the down-to-earth native of Lower Bavaria has long been a famous chef in his own right – and much more than that. He took the time to talk to KTCHNrebel.
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Fermentation pro David Zilber: Bacteria on the stove!
Nobody can do more with bacteria than he does. David Zilber is the poster child for the global fermentation hype. Why he abandoned his own research laboratory at the best restaurant in the world – and how he wants to save the world with tempeh, tomato sauce and salami.
Young Chefs and Newcomers
Discover the next generation of culinary arts – young chefs and newcomers who are set to revolutionize the gastronomy scene. Learn more about their success secrets and the cooking competitions where they showcase their skills.
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Young and famous Chef Pierluigi Saffioti: Twice the success thanks to social media
Italian cooking star Pierluigi Saffioti is the best example of how you can have fun at work and still excel at what you do. At just 29, he has already worked in ten establishments between Italy and Australia, where he impressed everyone with his skills and experience. While doing so, he still makes time for a very special hobby – where he is also at the top of his game.
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Five young chefs you should know about
The world of gastronomy has never been more colorful than it is today. Despite all the adversity of the last few years, there are still creative, bold and above all young chefs who are not afraid of precarious economic conditions because they are fully sold on their concepts. We would like to introduce you to extraordinary, young talents that should definitely be on the culinary radar.
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Young chefs in gastronomy – How could these chefs hold their own as young leaders in professional kitchens?
To be successful, you need good leaders, especially in an industry as stressful, albeit wonderful, as the restaurant industry. Whether a temp or a qualified professional, both motivation and performance are largely dependent on successful employee management. But what if the bosses are (comparably) young?
Female Chefs
Female connoisseurs are taking over the culinary world. Get inspired by successful chefs like Haya Molcho, Salam Dakkak, Antonia Klugmann and Manu Buffara, and discover more extraordinary stories of women leading the kitchen.
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Female connoisseurs: Sustainable and female – the taste of the future
For a long time, food service was a male-dominated industry. However, an increasing number of women are now fighting for their (well-deserved) place in gourmet kitchens, founding innovative start-ups or making a name for themselves as bartenders. But where is this shift coming from? What do female connoisseurs do differently from their male colleagues? And can they do it better?
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Pía León – Hidden treasures
“I’m Pía León, from Lima, Peru,” Latin America’s Best Female Chef introduces herself modestly. The blonde Peruvian doesn’t seem the type to let success go to her head. We Germans tend to think of Latin Americans as easy-going, and she certainly fits that description, but her impeccable organization brooks no stereotype.
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Karime Lopez – Why the future of gastronomy should be more female
From zero to one hundred on her own accord – becoming the highly decorated head chef at Massimo Bottura's Gucci Osteria. Right now, no success story is more spectacular than that of the Mexican female chef Karime Lopez. But what's behind her meteoric rise and what makes her a gamechanger?
Innovative and Unique Gastronomy Concepts
Extraordinary gastronomy concepts that impress: From breathtaking experiential dining like the Eatrenalin restaurant to the lonliest restaurants worldwide – discover further unique ideas and approaches here.
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The six most sustainable restaurants in the world
Those who indulge when eating shouldn't go overboard. Food waste, high CO₂ consumption and huge piles of garbage carry much more weight than extra calories in light of the climate crisis. A growing number of restaurateurs are therefore developing exciting concepts to run their restaurants and gastronomy as a whole in a more sustainableway. KTCHNrebel had a look and these are six of the world’s most sustainable restaurants.
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No pictures, please! What do influencers actually think of photo bans in Michelin-starred restaurants?
Photo bans in restaurants can annoy many guests. But why do restaurateurs choose to do this? And what does this mean for full-time food influencers who never eat without their cell phones?
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Costly: these are the most expensive restaurants in the world
For connoisseurs, every fine morsel is worth the cost. Whether it’s spectacular locations or world-class chefs, the most expensive restaurants are usually booked months in advance.
The Michelin Guide recommends over 17,000 restaurants, with around 20% proudly holding one to three coveted Michelin stars. In 2024, the US boasts more than 253 Michelin-starred restaurants, showcasing exceptional skill and creative culinary artistry. Meanwhile, Germany is home to 340 starred restaurants, the UK to 183, and France leads the way with an impressive 625. Ready for a culinary journey? You can find the full list of Michelin-starred chefs and their restaurants in the Michelin Guide.
A Michelin-starred chef is a chef whose restaurant has been awarded one or more Michelin stars by the Michelin Guide. The stars are considered one of the highest recognitions in the culinary world and are awarded for outstanding cuisine.
Meaning of the Michelin stars:
1 star: A kitchen full of finesse, worth a stop.
2 stars: Excellent cuisine, worth a detour.
3 stars: Exceptional cuisine, worth a journey.
Michelin-starred chefs are known for their extraordinary skill and dedication to the culinary arts. Learn more about the power of Michelin stars.
Michelin-starred cuisine or Fine dining refers to high-end cuisine that stands out due to the best quality, the expertise of the chefs, their creativity, and originality. Restaurants that consistently meet these criteria across their entire menu are awarded Michelin stars – the global benchmark for culinary excellence.
Michelin-starred cuisine is defined by the highest quality ingredients, masterful craftsmanship, and creative compositions. Chefs combine flavor harmony with innovative preparation and presentation techniques, ensuring consistency and perfection in every dish.
The green Michelin star was introduced in 2020. It recognizes restaurants that stand out for their particularly sustainable practices and environmentally friendly gastronomy. Criteria considered for this award include regionality, seasonality, resource conservation, and initiatives such as home-grown produce (Nose to tail), zero waste management, and more.
There is no official title for “best chef in the world.” However, various awards and rankings provide insights into outstanding talents. Every year, the “50 World’s Best Restaurants” are recognized, such as Central in Lima, Peru, by Virgilio Martínez and Pía León. Chefs who, in addition to their culinary achievements, also stand out through their Instagram profiles are awarded the Best Chefs of Instagram Award 2024 by KTCHNrebel.
Official figures on the exact wealth of the world’s richest chefs are not available. All rankings are therefore based on estimates. Among the top 3 in our article are Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay, and Alan Wong.