The most famous chefs from around the world

"Gastronomy is the art of using food to create happiness," wrote the British historian Theodore Zeldin. True to this adage, a multitude of great chefs compete in inventiveness all over the world. Discover the most famous of them.

Yotam Ottolenghi is the undisputed star of the moment for his best-selling cookbooks like 'Simple'. A big fan of vegetables, the Anglo-Israeli chef made his name in London and is also opening a restaurant in Paris.

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Nobuyuki 'Nobu' Matsuhisa is famous for his 'fusion' cuisine which combines elements of traditional cuisine from Japan and South America. As such, the background of this Japanese chef who spent several years in Peru, is reflected in his work. Matsuhisa is also closely linked to Robert De Niro.

His show 'Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares' made him famous, as well as the fact he earned three stars in one go. The Scotsman Gordon Ramsay is a particularly demanding chef who runs several dozen restaurants around the world.

Also a best-selling author and television presenter, Jamie Oliver is an Italian gastronomy enthusiast who has made a name for himself in the United Kingdom. He has taken advantage of his fame to promote healthy eating, particularly in school canteens.

Trained in traditional Japanese cuisine, Seiji Yamamoto obtained two Michelin stars in 2008 for his restaurant 'Nihonryori Ryugin' in Tokyo. Always looking for new inspirations, he successfully attempted the fusion of Japanese and Iberian products.

Viewers of cooking shows probably know Philippe Etchebest. He's appeared in 'Top Chef.' among others. Of Basque origin, he still works in his brewery, 'Le Quatriième Mur', in Bordeaux.

Also a member of the 'Top Chef' jury, Hélène Darroze received her third Michelin star in 2021 for her restaurant in London. More discreet than some of her colleagues, she still works in her Parisian workshop.

Famous thanks to the small screen and also very popular on Instagram, Jean-François Piège is the chef of the Grand Restaurant in Paris. He shows off his talents in several other addresses in France.

Guy Savoy's restaurant in Paris has three stars and, in 2017, it was even crowned the best in the world by 'La Liste', a directory based on an algorithm. Yet, this chef has lost none of his simplicity and he has also opened a ramen restaurant at affordable prices.

Trained by the greatest French chefs, Italian-Argentinian chef Mauro Colagreco is one of the revelations of recent years. His restaurant 'Le Mirazur' in Menton, on the Côte d’Azur, was voted best in the world in 2019.

Made famous by an episode of the Netflix program 'The Table', Slovenian Ana Roš is self-taught: first a waitress in the family restaurant, she moved into the kitchen where she brilliantly mixed regional specialties with ingredients from her own hands.

This couple opened the 'Central Restaurante' in Lima in 2009. Its unique 17-course menu, which also has a vegetarian version, combines both seafood and meals produced at 4,000 meters above sea level in the Andes.

The most-starred chef in the world and a highly respected personality in the profession, Alain Ducasse has restaurants on all continents. He has made his own name an international brand, which he uses on various products, such as coffee and chocolate.

Catalan chef Joan Roca saw his establishment 'El Celler de Can Roca' in Girona named the best restaurant in the world in 2013. This fan of new culinary techniques runs his business with his brothers Josep (sommelier) and Jordi (desserts).

In the Spanish Basque country, Victor Arguinzoniz is nicknamed the “grill genius”. In his restaurant “Asador Etxebarri”, everything is grilled, from meats to fish and seafood, including fruits and vegetables. An art of which this chef has the secret!

Also Basque and Spanish, Martin Berasategui has three Michelin stars for the restaurant that bears his name, on the road to Santiago de Compostela. One of the country's most renowned chefs, he regularly appears on cooking shows.

With two stars to his credit, Thierry Marx is a very influential chef in the media. He is committed to serving social causes, such as reducing waste or the professional integration of young people, while increasing partnerships with major brands.

Coming from a family of chefs, Anne-Sophie Pic has won stars for several of her restaurants and was voted Best Female Chef in the World in 2011. She opened her own cooking school and is campaigning for the profession to give more space to Women.

Revealed in 2005 in the show 'Oui Chef!', Cyril Lignac now runs several restaurants and patisseries. Followed by more than 3 million people on Instagram, he is also a presenter on the French television channel that made him famous.

Even though he died in 2018, we add Joël Robuchon to this list because he earned a record total of 30 stars for his various restaurants. His influence is still present, notably for his collaboration with popular brands like Fleury Michon or Reflets de France.

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