HERE ARE THE BIG WINNERS OF THE FAVORFLAV FOOD TOP 100, EDITION 2022

Say wine, snacks or haute cuisine and the gourmands at online food magazine FavorFlav know where to drink, how to eat it and what to cook. This time our cheffies serve you: The big winners of the favorflav food top 100, edition 2022

Who are the taste makers in the world of food and drink? That is the question we ask ourselves every year when constructing the FavorFlav Food Top 100, our annual celebration where we honor the hundred most influential people in the food scene. The first place? This year it goes to Miljuschka Witzenhausen.

For the sixth consecutive year, we compiled a mouthwatering list of the movers & shakers of Dutch gastronomy. For months we have been answering the questions: Who matters in the Dutch culinary scene? Who determines what we eat and drink? What do we eat and where do we order it? Who shines? Who fails? Who scores?

And especially: who does that this year? During the last live edition – the FavorFlav Food Top 100, 2020 held mobile due to corona, Janny van der Heijden, the grande dame of culinary journalism, took the trophy home.

FavorFlav Food Top 100 winners 2019, from left to right: Sharon van Lokhorst (editor-in-chief FavorFlav), Marcus Polman (founding editor), Vjèze Fur, Janny van der Heijden, Miljuschka Witzenhausen, and Jörgen Raymann

Hall of Fame
We received countless suggestions from foodies across the country and from our Hall of Fame, consisting of previous winners and gastronomes with a remarkable track record, including star chefs Joris Bijdendijk (Rijks*, Wils*), Jonnie and Thérèse Boer (De Librije***), Robert Kranenborg and Jacob Jan Boerma (The White Room*).

The top 3
It resulted in an exciting list of 100 nominees: a colorful mix of (star) chefs, food producers, restaurateurs, startups, culinary journalists, cocktail shakers, brand builders, and other key players from the culinary scene. All of whom have made a proven contribution to enriching the food culture and food awareness in the Netherlands. And just like the editorial team of FavorFlav, they have a pounding heart for better food and drink. We proudly present the winners, along with the accompanying jury report.

Number 1: Miljuschka Witzenhausen
One after another culinary magazine goes under, and who dares to launch a new food magazine in that market? Miljuschka. Bold, I must say! Her magazines are flying off the shelves. This is publishing in a new style – readers order a copy online in advance, so no more stacks of unsold magazines in the kiosk. And with zero advertisements. Together with a dream team of editors and stylists, she creates a stunningly beautiful magazine, which now appears four times a year. Also commendable: a portion of the proceeds from the magazine goes to the Epilepsy Fund.

And 2021 was definitely the year of Mil – for insiders. She finally launched her long-awaited website with an impressive archive of her recipes (lemon cheesecake anyone?). And she was back on screen to spread her message that eating well doesn’t have to be complicated. With her own cooking show Miljuschka Kookt on RTL4, in Bake with Miljuschka on 24Kitchen, as a regular food expert on RTL Boulevard, and as a raging reporter in Snackmasters.

And then there’s her series of culinary podcasts Eating Secrets, personal conversations where she quizzes her favorite foodie friends about their culinary secrets. Kitchen confessions that we enjoy every time. Everybody loves Miljuschka, and so do we. In 2019, she was in second place in the FavorFlav Food Top 100, this year she takes home the grand prize. Congratulations Miljuschka!

Number 2: Alain Caron and sons
Culinary phenomenon and professional Frenchman Alain Caron is a staple in the highly viewed TV program Inside Out.
Meanwhile, he is steadily building a modest empire of family restaurants, together with his sons David and Tom, despite corona. In addition to editorial favorites Café Caron and Petit Caron in the Amsterdam Pijp, he added De Gouden Reael (on the Reaeleneiland) and Cantine de Caron (on the Westergasterrein). All according to the tried-and-true recipe of the classic French bistro cuisine.

The recipes of the famous culinary family have been compiled in La Table de Caron: from oeufs durs mayonnaise and mackerel rillettes with tarragon mayonnaise to salmon en croûte, boeuf bourguignon, and a bouillabaisse. Eating as if at the Caron family table, you’ll be licking your fingers.

Number 3: Robèrt van Beckhoven
Robèrt van Beckhoven, known to the general public as the jury member with the soft g from Heel Holland Bakt, you might associate with cakes or with perfect bread. He is, after all, the only one in the whole of the Netherlands who is both a master patissier and a master baker. Less known: Robèrt is an internet nerd. At least: he has set up an extremely successful and innovative online platform. Through the website Meesterlijk van Robèrt enthusiasts can take courses, find recipes, exchange baking experiences, and buy baking supplies online. If all those bakes fail, you can even order a ready-made cake or a bag of cookies from the master baker through the website. Smart businessman!

© Raoul Hollants Photography

Special dinner
The FavorFlav Food Top 100 #6 was announced on Monday, June 13, 2022, at restaurant Daalder during the annual FavorFlav Food Top 100 dinner, presented by Horace Cohen & Pim Veth and FavorFlav’s editor-in-chief Sharon van Lokhorst. Top chefs Dennis Huwaë (Daalder*), Jermain de Rozario (De Rozario*), Alain Caron (including Café Caron, Petit Caron), Menno Post (Olivijn*), Jonathan Karpathios (The Farm Kitchen), and Bart de Gans (De Dessertclub) prepared the six-course dinner. Curious about their dishes, the award ceremony, and the evening in general? You can see it all in our Instastories @favor_flav