ANA ROS NAMED WORLD’S BEST FEMALE CHEF 2017

Written by David Hagger on 22 February 2017.

Ana Roš of Hiša Franko in Kobarid, Slovenia, has been named The World’s Best Female Chef 2017. She will be presented with the honour at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony at the historic Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne on April 5^th. (Images World 50 Best website).

A self-taught chef, Roš grew up influenced by the cuisines of Slovenia’s neighbouring countries – Italy, Hungary, Austria and Croatia. At Hiša Franko, Roš draws inspiration from Slovenia’s culinary heritage and ingredients, adding audacious, surprising twists to traditional dishes. Housed in an historic 1860 building, Hiša Franko is a family business with Roš working alongside her sommelier husband, Valter. Together they present an innovative, inviting dining experience that evokes the warmth and hospitality of a private residence. With Hiša Franko situated in Slovenia’s beautiful Soča Valley only three kilometres from the Italian border, Roš takes full advantage of the location to source ingredients from local producers.

William Drew, Group Editor of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, said, “Ana Roš  is a very worthy recipient of this year’s World’s Best Female Chef honour. Her precision, attention to detail and imagination distinguish her as a true leader in global gastronomy. Her passion for local ingredients, her investment in people and her commitment to elevating the culinary arts in her native Slovenia make her an inspirational role model.”

A former national ski champion, Roš originally pursued a career in the diplomatic corps. In 2000, however, she and Valter took ownership of Hiša Franko from Valter’s father, prompting Roš to begin her gastronomic journey. While honing her culinary skills, Roš discovered the exceptional quality and diversity of Soča Valley produce.Building on this foundation, Roš developed a sophisticated, seasonal menu that highlights the freshness of local ingredients and introduces gourmands to the traditions of her native cuisine.

Throughout her career, Roš has connected food with philanthropy. The 44-year-old chef has travelled to India to mentor underprivileged girls, taught recovering addicts how to cook and hosts an annual event for local children in her kitchen to demonstrate the simple pleasures of baking bread. Her participation in global culinary events and congresses has raised her profile, further boosted by her featuring in the acclaimed Netflix series, Chef’s Table.

Accepting the prestigious accolade, Rošadded: “The award came as a surprise to me. It is a big responsibility to accept this award, especially as a self-taught cook, but the recognition provides an opportunity for people to reassess Slovenia as an interesting gastronomic destination.”

Roš follows in the footsteps of a series of notable female chefs in holding this prestigious title, including the inimitable Dominique Crenn in 2016, as well as Hélène Darroze (2015), Helena Rizzo (2014), Elena Arzak (2013), Nadia Santini (2012) and Anne-Sophie Pic (2011). The selection of this year’s winner also reflects the broad gastronomic geography of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants brand, shining the spotlight on a chef from a relatively little-known culinary country.

The selection process

The World’s Best Female Chef Award is voted for by almost 1,000 international restaurant industry experts and well-travelled gourmets who make up The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy. The Academy comprises 26 separate regions around the world, each of which has 40 members, including a chairperson. None of the event’s sponsors have any influence over the voting process.

Notes to editors

William Reed Business Media

Organised by William Reed Business Media, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list has been published since 2002. William Reed Business Media is solely responsible for organising the awards, collating the votes and producing the list.

About our host country partner

With unspoilt landscapes from coast to coast, Australia is home to some of the most interesting restaurants, serving an exciting array of fresh produce and native ingredients that you won’t find anywhere else the world. There is a freedom and creativity to Australian food, where chefs passionately embrace diversity and a rich multicultural history, complemented by a wine scene that is both deep in its roots and vigorous in its growth. But what really sets Australia apart is the stunning weather, outstanding natural beauty and vibrant outdoor lifestyle.

Official partners

• Tourism Australia – Official host country partner
• Visit Victoria – Official host state partner
• Diners Club International – Official credit card partner and sponsor of ‘The Diners Club® Lifetime Achievement Award’
• Ferrari Trento – Official sparkling wine partner and sponsor of ‘The Ferrari Trento Art of Hospitality Award’
• Lavazza – Official coffee partner and sponsor of the ‘Highest Climber Award’
• Wine Australia – Official wine partner
• San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna – Official water partner
• Grana Padano – Official cheese partner
• Etihad Airways – Official airline partner
• QT Hotel Melbourne – Official hotel partner
  
  

Supporting partner

• Grand Hyatt Melbourne

How The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is compiled

The list is created from the votes of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 1,000 international leaders in the restaurant community. The panel in each region is made up of food writers and critics, chefs, restaurateurs and highly regarded ‘gastronomes’. Members list their choices in order of preference, based on their best restaurant experiences of the previous 18 months. There is no pre-determined check-list of criteria, but there are strict voting rules.

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is independently adjudicated by professional services consultancy Deloitte. This adjudication ensures that the integrity and authenticity of the voting process and the resulting list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017 are protected.