Nenad Mlinarevic is one of the most influential chefs of his generation in Switzerland, a Gault Millau Chef of the Year celebrated for pioneering fine dining built exclusively on Swiss products. Today he leads a group of distinctive restaurants in Zurich, including the sharing-focused Bauernschanke and the vegetable restaurant Neue Taverne.
Having won two Michelin stars early in his career for a radically local approach, Mlinarevic helped make Swiss-sourced cuisine mainstream, and has since built a varied and forward-looking culinary group in Zurich.
TL;DR
- Swiss chef, a leading name in modern Swiss cuisine
- Named Gault Millau Chef of the Year in 2016
- Won two Michelin stars for cooking exclusively with Swiss products
- Leads the Bauernschanke and Neue Taverne in Zurich
- A pioneer of hyper-local Swiss fine dining
Nenad Mlinarevic key facts
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Based in | Zurich |
| Honour | Gault Millau Chef of the Year 2016 |
| Known for | Fine dining with exclusively Swiss produce |
| Restaurants | Bauernschanke; Neue Taverne, Zurich |
Chef of the Year
Nenad Mlinarevic made his name at the restaurant of the Park Hotel Vitznau, where his cooking earned two Michelin stars – a rare achievement – and, in 2016, the title of Chef of the Year from Gault Millau. He was among the first chefs to cook at this level using exclusively Swiss products, an approach that was initially a bold risk but has since become mainstream.
A Zurich group
In March 2018 Mlinarevic and his team took over the Bauernschanke in Zurich, and he now leads a range of distinctive gastronomic addresses in the city. These include the casual, sharing-focused Bauernschanke and the vegetable-forward Neue Taverne, where meat is very much an afterthought – reflecting his interest in produce, sustainability and new ways of eating.
A modern Swiss identity
Mlinarevic is often described as a leading figure of a new, confident Swiss cuisine. By insisting on local products and championing vegetables, he helped shift the conversation in Swiss gastronomy, showing that world-class cooking could be built entirely on the country’s own larder. His restaurants continue to explore relaxed, contemporary formats.
Signature style
Mlinarevic’s style is modern, local and produce-driven. He builds his cooking around Swiss ingredients and a strong emphasis on vegetables, favouring generous, contemporary formats over stiff formality. It is a forward-looking approach that has made him one of the most influential Swiss chefs of his generation.
Nenad Mlinarevic in context
Mlinarevic is one of Switzerland’s leading modern chefs featured on Pickup Table 4, alongside Heiko Nieder and Rico Zandonella.
Follow Nenad Mlinarevic
Nenad Mlinarevic – official site
Nenad Mlinarevic FAQ
Who is Nenad Mlinarevic?
A Swiss chef, a Gault Millau Chef of the Year and pioneer of all-Swiss fine dining.
What is he known for?
Cooking exclusively with Swiss products and championing vegetables.
What restaurants does he run?
The Bauernschanke and the Neue Taverne in Zurich, among others.
What awards has he won?
Gault Millau Chef of the Year in 2016, and two Michelin stars earlier.
What kind of food does he cook?
Modern, local, produce-driven Swiss cuisine.
