Max Stiegl is one of Austria’s most characterful chefs, chef-patron of Gut Purbach in Burgenland and a celebrated master of offal and nose-to-tail cooking. Slovenian-born and Austrian-raised, he became the youngest chef in the world to win a Michelin star, and later a Gault Millau Chef of the Year.
Renowned for using every part of the animal, Stiegl champions Slow Food, local produce and the traditions of the Lake Neusiedl region with radical conviction.
TL;DR
- Austrian chef, born in 1980 in Koper, Slovenia
- Chef-patron of Gut Purbach in Burgenland
- Won his first Michelin star at 21
- A renowned master of offal and nose-to-tail cooking
- Gault Millau Chef of the Year 2020
Max Stiegl key facts
| Born | 1980, Koper, Slovenia |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Restaurant | Gut Purbach, Burgenland |
| First star | aged 21, at Inamera in Rust |
| Known for | Offal and nose-to-tail cooking |
A youthful record
Born Zeljko Raskovic in 1980 in Koper, Slovenia, Max Stiegl came to Austria at six and trained in Salzburg. At just 21, while chef at Restaurant Inamera in Rust, he earned his first Michelin star, becoming the youngest chef in the world to receive the honour. His adopted name comes from a nickname and his favourite beer.
Gut Purbach
In 2007 Stiegl took over Gut Purbach in Purbach am Neusiedlersee, which he has turned into one of Austria’s most talked-about restaurants. Austrian Gault Millau named him Chef of the Year for 2020 and awarded him a fourth toque.
Nose to tail
Stiegl’s specialty is offal. He is renowned for his talent in appreciating unusual cuts and organ meats and bringing them precisely to the plate, and his annual Sautanz festival celebrates using every part of the pig. At Gut Purbach he follows Slow Food principles, working with local, seasonal produce from Burgenland.
Signature style
Stiegl’s cooking is bold, honest and radical in its commitment to sustainability and tradition. Built on offal, game, fish from Lake Neusiedl and the produce of the Leithaberg, it is deeply regional yet utterly distinctive – among the most characterful cuisines in Austria.
Max Stiegl in context
Stiegl is one of Austria’s most distinctive chefs featured on Pickup Table 4, alongside fellow Burgenland chef Walter Eselbock and Richard Rauch.
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Max Stiegl FAQ
Who is Max Stiegl?
An Austrian chef-patron of Gut Purbach, famed for offal cooking.
Why is he notable?
He became the youngest chef in the world to win a Michelin star, at 21.
What is he known for?
Nose-to-tail cooking and offal specialities.
What is the Sautanz?
His annual festival using every part of a pig.
What award did he win in 2020?
Gault Millau Chef of the Year.
