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Thomas Keller, United States “100 Best Chefs”
The first American featured on this list of best chefs, Thomas Keller grew up in
Arjan Speelman and Onno Kokmeijer, Netherlands “100 Best Chefs”
Another dynamic duo in the kitchen are Arjan Speelman and Onno Kokmeijer, who le
Dieter Koschina, Portugal “100 Best Chefs”
For nearly 30 years, Dieter Koschina has headed up Vila Joya’s restaurant, earni
Normand Laprise, Canada “100 Best Chefs”
One of Quebec’s most famed chefs, Normand Laprise was sent to live on a farm as
Nicolas Le Bec, China “100 Best Chefs”
Attending hospitality school in Paris from the age of 13, Nicolas Le Bec got an
Edouard Loubet, France “100 Best Chefs”
Growing up in the French ski resort town of Val-Thorens, Edouard Loubet’s mother
Tadayoshi Matsukawa, Japan “100 Best Chefs”
Tadayoshi Matsukawa doesn’t like publicity and doesn’t share much about himself,
Jean-Georges Klein, France “100 Best Chefs”
Jean-Georges Klein began in hospitality studying hotel management in Strasbourg,
Motokazu Nakamura, Japan “100 Best Chefs”
Nakamura has been a feature of Kyoto, Japan, for more than 180 years. As the six
Hans Neuner, Portugal “100 Best Chefs”
Born in Austria, Hans Neuner had both a thirst for travel and cooking. Working i
Norbet Niederkofler, Italy “100 Best Chefs”
Norbet Niederkofler got his first taste of cooking learning from his dad growing
Jiro Ono, Japan “100 Best Chefs”
At 94 years of age, Jiro Ono shows no signs of stopping. Regarded as the world’s
Gaston Acurio, Peru “100 Best Chefs”
Considered the Ambassador of Peruvian cuisine, Gaston Acurio didn’t begin in the
Fabio Pisani and Alessandro Negrini, Italy “100 Best Chefs”
Fabio Pisani grew up in Molfetta, Italy, while Alessandro Negrini was born in Ca
Julien Royer, Singapore “100 Best Chefs”
Under the tutelage of Michel Bras in his iconic Laguiole, France, restaurant, Ju
Eneko Atxa, Spain “100 Best Chefs”
Eneko Atxa left his hometown of Amorebieta, Spain, to attend hospitality school.
Stefano Baiocco, Italy “100 Best Chefs”
The Grand Hotel Feltrinelli has a long history on its Italian location. The rich
Albert Adria, Spain “100 Best Chefs”
One of the most esteemed chefs of Spain, Albert Adria started cooking at the age
Martin Berasategui, Spain “101 Best Chefs”
Even though Spanish chefs filled this list of best chefs, there is only one in t
Pascal Barbot, France “100 Best Chefs”
He may not have been able to work at the age of 7, but Pascal Barbot knew he wan
Alain Passard, France “100 Best Chefs”
The Michelin three-star Alain Passard name appears in many of the biographies of
Peter Goossens, Belgium “100 Best Chefs”
The No. 1 restaurant in Belgium has held this title for 15 years, with Hof Van C
Virgilio Martinez, Peru “100 Best Chefs”
Arguably the best chef in South America — and the only one from the continent to
Rasmus Kofoed, Denmark “100 Best Chefs”
You wouldn’t expect to find one of the world’s best restaurants atop a football
Michel Troigrois, France “100 Best Chefs”
When both your father and uncle helped revolutionize the culinary scene in Franc
Victor Arguinzoniz, Spain “100 Best Chefs”
Known for being extremely shy and hating publicity as well as being a master of
David Kinch, United States “100 Best Chefs”
Born in Pennsylvania, David Kinch got his start at the famed Johnson & Wales Uni
Eric Frechon, France “100 Best Chefs”
One of the leaders in French cuisine is Eric Frechon, who has held three Micheli
Joan Roca, Spain “100 Best Chefs”
Joan Roca began cooking at 9 years old when his mother asked him to help out at
Daniel Humm, United States “100 Best Chefs”
Swiss-born Daniel Humm began working in kitchens at an even younger age of 14. W
Nadia Santini, Italy “100 Best Chefs”
One of the best female chefs in the world, and the top female chef in Italy, Nad
Christian Bau, France “100 Best Chefs”
Christian Bau, like many European chefs, began his studies in the kitchen at the
Jerome Banctel, France “100 Best Chefs”
Within the luxurious La Reserve Hotel and Spa, Jerome Banctel heads Le Gabriel,
Michel Guerard, France “100 Best Chefs”
Born in 1933, Michel Guerard is considered a founder of nouvelle cuisine. Workin
Yannick Alleno, France “100 Best Chefs”
French bistros are a dime a dozen, but for Yannick Alleno, it was the family bus
Tetsuya Fujiwara, Japan “100 Best Chefs”
Four generations of Testuya Fujiwara’s family served as chefs in Japan, influenc
Heston Blumenthal, England “100 Best Chefs”
As an avant-garde chef, Heston Blumenthal takes diners on a journey at his resta
Heinz Reitbauer, Austria “100 Best Chefs”
Following in his parents’ footsteps, Heinz Reitbauer grew up in his family resta
Yoshihiro Narisawa, Japan “100 Best Chefs”
Yoshihiro Narisawa learned much of his culinary skills by training at Michelin-s
Clare Smyth, England “100 Best Chefs”
London’s only female chef — and the very first to operate a Michelin three-star
Enrico Crippa, Italy “100 Best Chefs”
Also training with the likes of Ferran Adria at El Bulli in Spain, Enrico Crippa
Andoni Luis Aduriz, Spain “100 Best Chefs”
Born in San Sebastian, resting on the Spanish and French border in the Basque re
Hideki Ishikawa, Japan “100 Best Chefs”
Arriving in Tokyo at the age of 20, Hideki Ishikawa originally wanted to work in
Franck Giovannini, Switzerland “100 Best Chefs”
Franck Giovannini may not have grown up in a family restaurant, but he did begin
Yoshihiro Murata, Japan “100 BEST CHEFS”
The family business runs strong for many chefs on this list. Yoshihiro Murata’s
Sergio Herman, Belgium “100 Best Chefs”
Another chef who grew up watching his grandparents and then his parents cooking,
Daniel Boulud, United States “100 Best Chefs”
Daniel Boulud became an apprentice at the two-star Nadron in Lyon, France, at th
Massimiliano Alajmo, Italy “100 Best Chefs”
Massimiliano (Max) Alajmo was a third-generation restauranteur, joining his fami
Hans Haas, Germany “100 Best Chefs”
Another chef hailing from Germany, Hans Haas has headed up Tantris for nearly 30
Peter Knogl, Switzerland “100 Best Chefs”
The Bavarian Chef Peter Knogl spent much of his time cooking in Michelin-starred
David Toutain, France “100 Best Chefs”
Joining French Chef Alain Passard’s culinary team at the age of 20, David Toutai
Bruno Oger, France “100 Best Chefs”
At the young of 12, Bruno Oger knew he wanted to be a chef. But not just any che
Angel Leon, Spain “100 Best Chefs”
Angel Leon spent the early part of his career discovering the local foods across
Jacob Jan Boerma, Netherlands “100 Best Chefs”
After working across The Netherlands at restaurants such as Scholteshof, De Bokk
Alexandre Mazzia, France “100 Best Chefs”
When you grow up in Africa, the recipes and ingredients of the continent are bou
Olivier Bellin, France “100 Best Chefs”
What was started by Olivier Bellin’s grandmother at the beginning of the 20th ce
Claude Bosi, England “100 Best Chefs”
As a child in Lyon, France, Claude Bosi grew up in his parents’ restaurant. He f
Yoann Conte, France “100 Best Chefs”
Growing up in the Lorraine Valley, Yoann Conte grew up in the hotel and restaura
Paolo Casagrande, Spain “100 Best Chefs”
Paolo Casagrande does not own the Michelin three-star Lasarte, but his contribut
Andre Chiang, China “100 Best Chefs”
Andre Chiang, born in Taiwan, spent 17 years training to be a chef in France. Al
Alexandre Couillon, France “100 Best Chefs”
Once named France’s Chef of the Year, Alexandre Couillon was a seafood-loving ch
Sven Elverfeld, Germany “100 Best Chefs”
Sven Elverfeld began his apprenticeships as a confectioner near Frankfurt, Germa
Alexandre Gauthier, France “100 Best Chefs”
Another chef who followed (almost) in the footsteps of his talented chef father,
Ronny Emborg, United States “100 Best Chefs”
Although Ronny Emborg heads up the first United States’ restaurant to appear on
Dani Garcia, Spain “100 Best Chefs”
One month after receiving his third star from Michelin, Spain’s Dani Garcia anno
Marc Haeberlin, France “100 Best Chefs”
The son of renowned French Chef Paul Haeberlin, Marc Haeberlin had big shoes to
Cristophe Hardiquest, Belgium “100 Best Chefs”
Cristophe Hardiquest began his career at the Hotel School of Namur’s culinary sc
Martin Klein, Austria “100 Best Chefs”
Born in the Alsace region, Martin Klein trained at his hometown’s School of Hote
Hajme Yoneda, Japan “100 Best Chefs”
Born in Osaka, Japan, in 1972, Hajme Yoneda actually began his career as an engi
Joachim Wissler, Germany “100 Best Chefs”
Growing up on a farm in the mountains of Bavaria, German-born Joachim Wissler le
Mathieu Viannay, France “100 Best Chefs”
Mathieu Viannay, born in Versailles in 1967, began his cooking career in 1998 at
Yusuke Takada, Japan “100 Best Chefs”
Studying at the Tsuji Culinary Institute, Yusuke Takada moved to France to train
Ciccio Sultano, Italy “100 Best Chefs”
On the island of Sicily, Ciccio Sultano grew up with Italian foods that had Medi
Andreas Senn, Austria “100 Best Chefs”
Andreas Senn dreamt of opening his own restaurant when he was still a teenager i
Carme Ruscalleda, Spain “100 Best Chefs”
Living on the Mediterranean shore of Spain, Carme Ruscalleda grew up in a Catalo
Eric Pras, France “100 Best Chefs”
Eric Pras began his time in the kitchen at the age of 15 when he worked as an ap
Grant Achatz, United States “100 Best Chefs”
When Grant Achatz graduated from culinary school at the age of 21, he hoped to b
Pierre Gagnaire, France “100 Best Chefs”
It is every chef’s dream to make it in Paris, and for French-born Pierre Gagnair
Paul Pairet, China “100 Best Chefs”
A relatively new Michelin three-star chef — receiving the honor in 2017 for Ultr
Dominique Crenn, United States “100 Best Chefs”
One of the few women gracing the list of world’s best chefs, Dominique Crenn was
Quique Dacosta, Spain “100 Best Chefs”
A self-taught chef who began his career in a pizza joint washing dishes, Quique
Olivier Nasti, France “100 Best Chefs”
Olivier Nasti began his chef training first at Chateau Servin in Belfort, France
Jannis Brevet, Netherlands “100 Best Chefs”
Jannis Brevet began his cooking career as an apprentice at Munich, Germany’s Tan
Dan Hunter, Australia “100 Best Chefs”
The only chef from Australia to make the list, Dan Hunter began his career scrub
Hitoshi Ishihara, Japan “100 Best Chefs”
Another of Japan’s hard-to-visit restaurants is Mizai. There are just 10 seats i
Gilles Goujon, France “100 Best Chefs”
Gilles Goujon started cooking as a teen, working as an apprentice in the former
Seiji Yamamoto, Japan “100 Best Chefs”
Seiji Yamamoto took his time perfecting his cooking skills before opening his ow
Bjorn Frantzen, Sweden “100 Best Chefs”
The only Swedish chef in the top 10 began a career playing football before becom
Jonnie Boer, Netherlands “100 Best Chefs”
Becoming the head chef of a 16th-century monastery library (thus its name), Jonn
Laurent Petit, France “100 Best Chefs”
Laurent Petit grew up as the son of a butcher. While he wasn’t sure he wanted to
René Redzepi, Denmark “100 Best Chefs”
Named the world’s best restaurant in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014, René Redzepi too
Emmanuel Renaut, France “101 Best Chefs”
Outside of Copenhagen, the remaining top five chefs are found in France. Getting
Alain Ducasse, France “100 Best Chefs”
Another name that has appeared on this list again and again? Alain Ducasse, who
Arnaud Donckele, France “100 Best Chefs”
When Alain Ducasse takes you under his wing and pronounces you “the next him,” y
Christophe Bacquie, France “100 Best Chefs”
Attending the Ecole Hoteliere from age 16, Christophe Bacquie chose to follow a
Mauro Colagreco, France “100 Best Chefs”
The world’s top chef in 2020 is connected to a French restaurant but is actually
Dan Barber, United States “100 Best Chefs”
The last American on this list may be considered the best chef from the United S
Arnaud Lallement, France “100 Best Chefs”
Entering the top 10 world’s best chefs, Arnaud Lallement continues France’s domi
Anne-Sophie Pic, France “100 Best Chefs”
Anne-Sophie Pic comes from a long line of chefs. The first family restaurant, Au