Restaurant Pine chef-owner Cal Byerley and head chef Ian Waller have been recognised in the ninth edition of the Best Chef Awards.
Held in Milan, this year’s event honoured hundreds of chefs from 69 countries across three knife tiers – with votes cast by chefs and industry professionals from around the world. The unique voting system honours chefs based on their impact and skill across three categories, recognising culinary professionals from six continents. Three knives (the best) celebrate the highest tier of culinary mastery, with 126 chefs achieving 80% or more of the maximum points. Two knives (world-class) acknowledges 236 chefs, and one knife (excellent) recognises 421 chefs – including Cal and Ian – highlighting their significant contributions to the field.
“Achieving this recognition for the first time is mind-blowing; it reflects the hard work of the entire team at Pine. We’re thrilled to be listed alongside so many brilliant chefs, individuals we’ve admired for years, who continue to inspire us. It’s all a bit surreal, but we’ll do our best to celebrate when we have some downtime,” said Cal and Ian.
Cristian Gadau, co-founder and CEO of The Best Chef, said: “The Best Chef Awards are more than just a celebration of culinary excellence, they are a reflection of a community that continues to grow and inspire. With nearly double the number of voters this year, we see the global appetite for innovation, diversity and collaboration in gastronomy is stronger than ever. Our mission has always been to create a platform that honours chefs not only for their skill but also for their vision and impact, while making this world of creativity accessible to everyone who loves food. Each edition of The Best Chef Awards aims to create a more inclusive list for everyone, regardless of their background or income, making it less elitist and more inclusive for all humanity.”
For the complete list of The Best Chef Awards 2025 winners and honourees, visit thebestchefawards.com
