The World’s Most Celebrated Chefs and the Cities to Visit to See Them and Their Knives In Action

The world of fine dining has really become a celebrated phenomenon in recent years, and that’s meant that the best in the trade are treated, quite rightly, as if they were rock stars or Oscar-winning actors.

It’s a sea change that many would feel is well overdue, and not just those in the profession but also critics, lovers of gourmet food, and those who can’t get enough of the plethora of cooking shows that have taken over our television screens.

Our collective appreciation of the best chefs in the world has led millions to mount a quest to visit the restaurants run, or fronted, by the best in the business. Unsurprisingly these locations are usually on the upscale spectrum, but every mouthful is worth its weight in gold.

Let’s take a look at the piece de resistance in the culinary world today and where you might go to visit them in action or taste the meals they have designed.

Five of the Most Celebrated Chefs in the World

When it comes to listing the best chefs in the world, it seems the most suitable measure to use would be the number of Michelin stars they have accrued, so with this in mind, here are some of the big hitters in this regard.

Alain Ducasse

This renowned French chef currently holds 17 Michelin stars and has the distinction of having his food sent into space, and not many can make this claim. His meals were sent to astronauts on board the International Space Station, and now the renowned chef has put his name and talents to 34 establishments around the world.

Each of these is not only well-known for outstanding dishes but also for their stunning decor, exquisite restaurant furniture, and the distinctive personality that Ducasse himself brings to everyone, from Tokyo to Paris.

Pierre Gagnaire

This experienced chef, another Frenchman, has been in the business for over four decades and has 14 Michelin stars. He got his first star at the age of 26 and hasn’t looked back. If you want to check out the man in all his glory and his dishes, of course, take a trip to Paris and try your best to get a reservation at the restaurant that bears his name.

He also oversees restaurants in London, at Sketch, which is situated in high-class upscale Mayfair.

Anne-Sophie Pic

This French chef is the most highly decorated female in the business, with eight Michelin stars, and that’s even though she’s had no formal training. It helped that she got her big start in life working at her family’s restaurant Maison Pic.

She runs restaurants in France as well as London, and in 2007 she became only the fourth woman to achieve three Michelin stars.

Gordon Ramsay

Obviously, this British chef is world-renowned and is probably the most famous worldwide, and it’s good to see that it’s not all bluster. Ramsay is well-known for his coarse language, but he has seven Michelin stars to back up that attitude.

He has, at one time, held 16 Michelin stars, and his flagship restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, has managed to hold on to three stars since 2001, which is an incredible feat and makes it the longest-running three-Michelin star establishment in London.

He is now attached to 35 restaurants around the world, which means you may not be far from one. He has eateries across the UK, in Las Vegas, Seoul, Versaille, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Lake Tahoe, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore.

Thomas Keller

This chef is the most successful in the US because he holds more Michelin stars than any other American. His most famous restaurant is The French Laundry, which is situated in the beautiful Napa Valley in California.

Keller also has restaurants in New York City and Miami, and you can get even closer to the great man by taking one of his three online cooking classes, which can be found on Masterclass.com.

Yoshihiro Murata

Murata has been in the chef game for almost half a century and has four restaurants around the world, and has seven Michelin stars at present. His most recent endeavor comes in the form of Tokimeite, a Wagyu restaurant in Mayfair, London. Check it out.

What Knives do the Best Chefs in the World Use?

When you see a star chef in action, you are often in awe of their cutting style, speed, and finesse, and obviously, this is partly down to a talent they have honed over the years, but it’s also about the hardware they use.

By common agreement, these are the brands of knives that are most commonly used by Michelin-starred chefs.

• Edge of Belgravia
• Shun
• Yaxell
• Zwilling
• Wüsthof and Henckels

Needless to say, the cost of premier knives can be very high, so if you want to chop with the best of them, be ready to splash the cash.

Consider a Culinary Vacation

If you consider yourself a connoisseur of great food and are looking for a fun way to spice up an upcoming vacation, then why not make your love of culinary splendor the cornerstone of your trip?

Pick a city, and plan your way across its finest eateries. A week-long trip could comprise a 21-stop extravaganza!

The likes of Paris, New York, London, and Tokyo jump out as potential places to complete such a trip, but there are countless others that are worth considering.