Vesselin Kalev is our new Head Chef

For Chef Vesselin Kalev, the restaurants of Zornitza Family Estate are a prestigious stage on which to develop further his creative talent. Chef Andre Tokev introduced him to the art of haute cuisine when he was 20 years old and was working at Hilton Hotel. Then, with Chef Emil Minev and Talisman Restaurant, they received the “Restaurant of the Year” award. His professional career took him to Germany, where he kept improving his skills, pursuing his dream – to work in a Michelin-starred restaurant. The dream came true in the most fabulous way – in Burg Wernberg estate, located in a XIII century castle and part of Relais & Châteaux. Vesselin was the only foreigner in the team of Thomas Kellerman, a two Michelin-star chef. His next job was in a one-star restaurant in Bonn, and from 2017 to November 2020 he was Head Chef at Rila Hotel in Borovets. In early 2020, he coached the team winning the Bulgarian edition of the prestigious Bocuse d’Or chefs’ competition.

In the restaurants of Zornitza Family Estate Relais & Châteaux, Chef Kalev is unfolding his philosophy that modern cuisine is built on the best of traditions and organic terroir products.