What a tribute! A Hungarian chef has made it into the world’s top 100

Source: Salt Budapest

For the third time in a row, Spain’s Dabiz Muñoz has been named the world’s best chef at the Best Chef Awards. We are particularly pleased that a Hungarian chef has also made it into the TOP100, an applaudable nod to the excellence of Hungarian gastronomy.

According to Helló Magyar, at the closing ceremony of The Best Chef Awards 2023, it was revealed that for the third year in a row, Dabiz Muñoz has been named the world’s best chef. The awards ceremony took place at the Yucatán International Convention Centre in Madrid, where the illustrious Top 100 chefs were unveiled, and 10 special accolades were bestowed upon culinary luminaries.

The gastronomic elite included 31 nationalities, with Europe coming out on top with 54 chefs, followed by America (24) and Asia (17). Spain is the gastronomic capital of the world, proudly claiming 14 chefs on the prestigious list.

Dabiz Muñoz (DiverXO, Spain), the rule-defying culinary maverick, continues his reign, leaving a trail of innovation and creativity in his gastronomic endeavours. Securing the runner-up position is Albert Adrià (Enigma, Spain), who not only graces the podium but also snags The Best Chef New Entry Award, a commendation presented by Le Nouveau Chef. Our Slovenian neighbours make their mark with Ana Roš at Hiša Franko, securing third place – after the 9th last year – and maintaining her status as top-ranking female chef.

The Best Chef Top100 2023 top 10 list

Hungarian Top 100 Chef: Szilárd Tóth

The official site describes chef Szilárd Tóth as follows: “his dishes are reminiscent of his birthplace, the county of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, and they invite a familiar, childhood nostalgia formed perfectly into a fine dining experience”. Chef Szilárd believes that two things are eternal: nature and tradition.

“There is no need to reimagine anything, it is enough to walk the existing paths. The point is to keep working with those same traditions, flavour pairings or grandmother’s recipes typical of certain regions, and thus create new dishes to move Hungarian gastronomy forward”

Salt Budapest was created on the basis of traditional Hungarian cuisine, where kitchen herbs and wild plants play an important role under the hands of chef (and co-owner) Szilárd Tóth. All ingredients are sourced exclusively from trusted sources, most of which are gathered by the chef himself in the countryside while the rest are produced by farmers. Everything is freshly pickled and fermented. The restaurant has already received numerous accolades and awards for their efforts to preserve the value of ancient techniques such as fermentation, drying and salting.

The poultry products come from Szilárd’s own family meat manufactory in Szatmár, while the locally baked bread, a cornerstone of Hungarian gastronomy, graces the tables daily. A noteworthy touch is that the chef prepares his culinary creations in the heart of the restaurant, inviting guests to engage in delightful exchanges.

10 special prizes

The best chefs’ awards were complemented by 10 special prizes at the gala, with Jordi Roca clinching The Best Chef Pastry Award for the second consecutive year. He won The Best Chef Pastry Award powered by The Lost Explorer Mezcal. However, the emotional pinnacle was reached as Ferran Adrià received recognition for his groundbreaking contributions to gastronomy, a legacy that continues to inspire new generations. Adrià’s elBulli, a gastronomic icon, has transformed into a museum and contemplation space, elBulli1843, a testament to the enduring impact of culinary genius.

The full list of the TOP100 chefs in the Best Chef Awards can be found here.