International Special Awards 2022DestinationInternational selection

Eastern Europe

New Destination Champion Award

A rising region that deserves a spot on the gastronomic map

Sponsored by

The countries of Central and Eastern Europe have always had a decidedly anti-gastronomic reputation. It’s time to bury this unfair and outdated image. There’s a lot going on in the Baltics, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Croatia, Montenegro, and Northern Macedonia. Not only are talented chefs emerging, even if they’re not yet well known internationally, there’s also a traditional food culture built on quality, often unpolished but also unadulterated and full of authenticity. Get there before everyone else finds out!