Some call it an art, others a science, others an experience. The truth is that in recent years gastronomy has evolved into something far greater than flavours and techniques. It has become culture; it has become a vehicle for social change; and—for some, fortunately—it has become a way of reading the world. In this spirit, and within a space charged with cultural and creative energy such as Technopolis in central Athens, a major conference will take place on 9-10 February 2026, aiming to bring Athens to the table of global gastronomy. At the centre of this forum is Dimitris Antonopoulos. A veteran food journalist and restaurant critic for more than three decades, deeply connected to the contemporary Greek culinary scene and firmly embedded in the international conversation, he is bringing to Athens for a fiery two-day programme some of the major figures shaping the global narrative of today’s cuisine.
Shall we take a look at the line-up? Joan Roca, arguably the most influential figure in Spanish gastronomy after Ferran Adrià, carries with him the intellectual identity of Catalonia and of El Celler de Can Roca, a legendary restaurant that became mythic in its own time. From Copenhagen, Rasmus Munk of the much-discussed Alchemist brings the momentum of a creator who moves between art, science and activist intervention. Andoni Aduriz, often described as the most poetic thinker of contemporary Spanish gastronomy, embodies disruption and a profound belief in the power of abstraction. With two Michelin stars and nearly two decades on the international stage, Mugaritz remains a laboratory of philosophical and aesthetic research, focused on the unexpected, the intangible and the emotional. Albert Adrià is perhaps the most emblematic figure of the avant-garde culinary scene in the post-El Bulli era. Brother to Ferran, but with his own unmistakable signature, his restaurant Enigma is a multi-system work of flavour, aesthetics and ritual. With two Michelin stars and the title of World’s Best Pastry Chef, Adrià carries the technical mastery and creative liberty of an entire generation.
René Frank turns dessert into a primary medium for precise experimentation. Konstantin Filippou gives form to his dual Greek–Austrian identity through a flavour vocabulary of remarkable accuracy. Carlo Cracco emerges as an ambassador of Italian gastronomic elegance and one of the most significant chefs in Italy over the past three decades. Finally, Zizi Hattab represents the voice of plant-based fine dining in Europe. Working out of Zurich and out of her own kitchen, she approaches vegan cuisine as a form of liberation rather than a constraint.
From the Greek side, the Forum showcases the living dynamism of the local culinary scene: chefs with distinct signatures, imaginative palates and a deep connection to both place and time. Sotiris Evangelou, Lefteris Lazarou, Ettore Botrini, Giorgos Papazacharias, Alexandros Tsiotinis, Christoforos Peskias, Tasos Mantis, Nikos Livadas and many others present projects, ideas and gastronomic narratives that reflect the breadth and creativity of contemporary Greek cuisine. The Forum’s themes span the spectrum of the gastronomic experience: Future Menus 2026, AI vs Human Creativity, fine dining and high-value tourism, the new Greek culinary identity, techniques, ingredients and philosophies. The programme highlights also include specialised tastings of coffee, pasta and wine. In this field, the programme features a curated series of tastings in collaboration with Konstantinos Lazarakis MW, ranging from Cristal Roederer and Château Canon to the great vintages of Naoussa and the wine identity of Kefalonia.
Athens Gastronomic Forum 2026 brings to the city a rare convergence of knowledge, creativity, technique and culture, gathered around the people who are shaping the gastronomy of tomorrow. The meeting of these worlds, through a programme of this kind, opens up a new space for thought and inspiration. We will be following it with great interest.
For more information and ticket reservations, visit:
https://athensgastronomicforum.com/
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