Janez Bratovž of JB Restaurant in Ljubljana was named Chef of the Year and the top accolades were awarded to ten restaurants, two more than last year.

The four toques rating was retained by Hiša Franko near Kobarid, Gostilna Pri Lojzetu near Vipava, Hiša Denk in Zgornja Kungota, Ošterija Debeluh in Brežice, Strelec in Ljubljana, Mak in Maribor, Pavus in Laško, and Grič in Šentjošt nad Horjulom, while JB Restaurant in Ljubljana and Restaurant Milka in Kranjska Gora are the two new additions to the prestigious list.

The Chef of the Future is Rok Martinčič of Gostilna Jež in Jagnjenica near Radeče while Ivica Evačić of Hotel Marina Restaurant in Izola and Matej Tomažič of Majerija from the village of Slap in the Vipava Valley were awarded the title of Traditional Cuisine Chef.

The latter two chefs received this honour because "both have impressed us with their enthusiasm for keeping the region's rich culinary heritage alive and their close connection with the local agriculture and food and the local community," the guide said.

The Young Talent award was conferred on Kristian Zule of Stara Gostilna in Piran, Naser Gashi received the top confectionery chef title, and Ljubljana's eVino wine bar won the Best POP award for popular destinations. Miralem Junuzović from Bistro Štorja in Postojna was named best waiter or sommelier of 2023.

"We are proud of all our caterers, waiters and sommeliers that are maintaining the quality and excellence of their restaurants year after year, and also delighted by new names making their way into Slovenian and international gastronomy," Gault&Millau Slovenia said.

They noted that an important part of their mission is to help raise rising stars' profile because they have a lot to offer, both to Slovenia and the international culinary scene.

Maja Pak from the Slovenian Tourist Board, Gault&Millau Slovenia's main partner, is very proud that despite its small size, Slovenia has managed to obtain a gastronomic superpower status.

The 2023 Gault&Millau guide will present 180 restaurants, over 100 popular hangouts or "POP places", 93 wine cellars and 25 traditional Slovenian agritourism farm houses.

Source: STA