Get to know Pál Tóth,

He is regarded as one of the most talented young chefs in the country. Previously, he ran the Kővirág restaurant in the Káli Basin for 4 years, then earned a Michelin recommendation for his kitchen at Alabárdos in Szeged, also helmed Tiszavirág, and now shines as head chef at River Diva in Budapest. He dreams up his dishes with a fantastic imagination that is unique in Hungary.

It is important to him that there is a spirit behind a dish, a conscious composition and that what he puts in front of the guest is also an artistic performance. Pál has learnt a lot of things through practice, almost self-taught. Although he went to a cooking school, from which he was about to be expelled, he is now back at the same school, where he is invited to teach.

Pál has always had an artistic vein, he painted, he had a punk band when he was younger, and then he realised that he could channel this energy into the culinary scene through cooking. With much of his time freed up during the pandemic closures, he has collected the recipes he has created over the years and published a technology-focused cookbook, Alchemy in the Kitchen, entirely on his own. At River Diva he also made an unusual start to his career by hosting a special, private, secret dinner on the still-under-construction ship before the official opening. In addition to the astonishing location, 10 astonishing dishes were served at this special dinner. Knowing Pál, we can expect many more extravagant menus and dishes in the future.