With Maksut Aşkar, the executive chef of Neolokal in Istanbul, we are organising a series of guest chef dinners to showcase the Anatolian culture and gastronomy and inspire well acclaimed chefs with new flavours. We have invited some amazing chefs from all over the world to come to Turkey, spend a few days with us, having an opportunity to get to know the culture, taste the traditional and contemporary cuisine of the country, meet people and at the end of their stay cook a meal inspired by their experience. The chefs will not cook their classical dishes but will be challenged to express through their cooking their experience and flavours of Anatolia.⠀
On Sunday, the 10th of June we are starting our fourth See Feel Taste Anatolia journey – the last before the summer break. Our guest chef this time will be the Austrian “Wunderkind” Philip Rachinger.
Philip was born into a family with hospitality deeply engraved into their DNA. His parents, aunt and grandmother are owning and managing the Mühltalhof restaurant and hotel – a place with a very special soul in North West of Austria. Philip’s journey started after he finished college and went to polish his culinary skills in Vienna at the famous Steiereck im Stadtpark where he stayed nearly two and half years. His next step was Pierre Gagnaire’s Rue Balzac and then Sketch in London. From Sketch he moved to the East London to work with Isaac McHale & co at the “Young Turks” Upstairs at Ten Bells. His fasciantion by Alexander Gauthier brought him back to France but he started missing the city, so he moved to Paris to work with Sven Chartier at the Saturne which he says transformed his view on cooking. He stayed there until his father called him back home to start working with him at the helm of the family restaurant Mühltalhof with wonderful views of the idyllic weirs along the Gross Mühl.
He is now exploring the Austrian traditions which he beautifully interpretes with his great sensibility and skills polished at some of the world’s best kitchens. Philip and his father Helmut Rachinger captivate guests with top culinary artistry coupled with a personal commitment to sustainability and an exquisite sensibility for finding the right balance in all they do. Both are completely dedicated to products supplied by the local farmers transforming them into unique creations which capture the flavours of the Mühlviertel with utter refinement.
Philip is one of the most celebrated Austrian chefs of the younger generation. Mühltalhof was awarded 3 hats and 18/20 points in Gault Millau and has in 2017 hosted the Gelinaz does Upper Austria event which brought to Mühltalhof some of the world’s greatest chefs who stayed there for a few days and cooked together – between them Rene Redzepi, David Chang, Mauro Colagreco, Virgilio Martinez, Hans Reitbauer, Ana Ros and many others.
Philip Rachinger will cook with Maksut Aşkar on the 13th June at Neolokal in Istanbul. ⠀
Philip and Maksut will be in their explorations joined by Philip’s sous chefs Wolfgang, by Anna, our invited journalist, and me. You can follow our journey through Istanbul from Sunday (10th June) on Instagram: Philip, Maksut, Anna & Andreja and get a small insight into our exciting journey.
Book this exciting dinner here.
