The French restaurant guide Gault Millau released its first Slovenian edition this month, and 130 restaurants made the list.
The project was supported by the Slovenian Tourism Organization, which has proactively focused in recent years on the development and promotion of gastronomy, as well as by well-known Slovenian chefs -- most notably Ana Ros, whose appearance on the Netflix documentary series "Chef's Table" has made her a household name among foodies.
The destination has been named a European Region of Gastronomy 2021 by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism, along with Coimbra, Portugal, and gastronomy will be the focus of a two-year marketing theme of the Slovenian Tourism Organization in 2020-2021.
Six Slovenian restaurants received four Gault Millau hats each (out of a possible five): Hisa Franko in Kobarid, Gostilna pri Lojzetu at Zemono Manor in Vipava, Hisa Denk in Kungota, Osterija Debeluh in Brezice, Mak Restaurant in Maribor and Strelec in Ljubljana.
Igor Jagodic from Strelec restaurant won Chef of the Year 2019, Meta Repovz from Gostila Repovz was named the Traditional Cuisine chef of 2019, David Vracko from MAK restaurant won Chef of the Future, the Young Talent title went to Mojmir Marko Siftar from Evergreen restaurant, and Janez Bratovz of JB restaurant was awarded for his contribution to the progress of Slovenian contemporary cuisine.