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From Wisconsin to Nigeria, our new study reveals the chefs around the world we are searching for the most
With each country’s palate and ingredients as varied as its own geography and culture, eating and drinking authentic food on your travels really helps connect you with a destination. Using cooking, tasting and eating as a way to experience a place is something we’re wildly passionate about, and our food tours are crafted to celebrate the diversity of local flavors and recipes.
Contemporary dining is moving away from fancy-for-the-sake-of-being-fancy, and there is a huge shift towards encouraging and championing sustainable ingredients, preserving local recipes and cooking methods, and being creative with regional produce while still retaining an authentic homage to the local area. To take our interest in international cuisine to the next level, we set out to uncover the most sought-after chefs from every corner of the world and each US state who are bringing these mouth-watering experiences to the table.
To find the culinary leaders who have not only mastered their craft but have also captured the hearts and imaginations of food lovers worldwide, we analysed the number of Google searches made for over 1,700 contemporary chefs, revealing which are this year’s most popular.
Our new study introduces you to the cooking leaders who define their regions' unique flavours and inspire foodie wanderlust such as Francis Mallmann and Tariq Helou, as well as a peppering of faithful favourites of the food world such as Gordon Ramsay and Guy Fieri.
Leading the pack as the most searched chef globally this year is Gordon Ramsay; the Scottish chef amassed a staggering 12 million searches, a testament to his towering presence across the world. Known for his Michelin-starred restaurants and popular TV shows like Hell's Kitchen and MasterChef, Gordon Ramsay is a name synonymous with fiery kitchen passion.
Among the top three most popular chefs of the year is the colourful and charismatic figure of North American cuisine: Guy Fieri. With 4.416 million searches, Fieri's personality as the host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and adventurous culinary spirit have captured the imagination of food enthusiasts across the small screen. The Ohio restaurateur and author also leads the pack as the most popular chef in the North American continent.
In the Asian continent, the top searched chef is Singapore's Tariq Helou, amassing an impressive 1.62million searches this year. Helou's culinary style reflects Singapore’s reputation as a melting pot of flavors, with his menu at restaurant Fleurette displaying a unique fusion of French and Japanese cuisine. His ability to marry traditional dishes with contemporary twists continuously makes him a celebrated figure in the culinary world and has earned him a stop on the top ten most Googled chefs in the world.
Meanwhile, Africa presents its culinary star in Nigeria's Hilda Baci, who amassed 1.32 million searches. The chef and restaurateur celebrates the best of West Africa on a plate with unique ingredients and bold flavors and is no stranger to cooking out of the box. In 2022, Chef Baci set a world record of cooking for 93 hours straight. Though her four-day cooking marathon has since been dethroned, it’s a testament to how far the Nigerian chef is willing to go to bring Nigerian cuisine to an international audience.
Australian chef Curtis Stone tops the list of most searched chef in Oceania with an impressive 594 thousand searches through the year. The celebrity chef, who has graced the screen in over 30 cooking shows across the globe, is known for his charismatic television presence and approachable cooking style. Stone has become a household name, representing the laid-back yet delicious nature of Aussie cuisine.
Topping the list as South America’s most popular chef is Francis Mallmann, an embodiment of the fiery spirit and rustic charm of Argentinian cuisine. With over 325 thousand searches made in his name, Mallmann's approach to cooking often involves open-flame techniques and traditional South American hearty flavours, which has earned him the nickname of ‘King of Outdoor Cooking’.
| Rank | Chef Name | Nationality | Continent | Year's Google Searches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gordan Ramsay | Scotland | Europe | 12,000,000 |
| 2 | Jamie Oliver | United Kingdom | Europe | 4,416,000 |
| 3 | Guy Fieri | Ohio | North America | 4,416,000 |
| 4 | Nigella Lawson | United Kingdom | Europe | 2952000 |
| 5 | Giada De Laurentiis | Italy | Europe | 1,980,000 |
| 6 | Bobby Flay | New York | North America | 1,980,000 |
| 7 | Tariq Helou | Singapore | Asia | 1,620,000 |
| 8 | Gino D'Acampo | Italy | Europe | 1,620,000 |
| 9 | Hilda Baci | Nigeria | Africa | 1,320,000 |
| 10 | Vicky Lau | China | Asia | 1,320,000 |
| 11 | Wolfgang Puck | Austria | Europe | 1,320,000 |
| 12 | Alain Ducasse | Monaco/France | Europe | 1,086,000 |
| 13 | Buddy Valastro | New Jersey | North America | 1,086,000 |
| 14 | Sanjay Thumma | India | Asia | 726,000 |
| 15 | Heston Blumenthal | United Kingdom | Europe | 726,000 |
| 16 | Emeril Lagasse | Massachusetts | North America | 726,000 |
| 17 | Katie Lee | West Virginia | North America | 726,000 |
| 18 | Ainsley Harriott | United Kingdom | Europe | 594,000 |
| 19 | Curtis Stone | Australia | Australia | 594,000 |
| 20 | Andrew Zimmern | New York | North America | 594,000 |
In the diverse culinary scene of the U.S., each state showcases unique dishes and chefs. To no surprise Guy Fieri, the most popular chef in North America and one of the most searched globally, leads the pack in the USA, followed shortly behind by Bobby Flay. In the Big Apple, Bobby Flay stands at the forefront with an impressive 1.98 million searches. Among the richest celebrity chefs in the world, Flay's name is synonymous with American culinary innovation as well as a recognizable TV personality that blends traditional American flavors with daring twists.
New Jersey's culinary diversity is epitomized by Buddy Valastro, also clocking in over a million searches through the year and entering the top five most popular American chefs this year. Valastro, famed for his cake artistry in the television series “Cake Boss”, continuously echoes the state's love for big flavors and larger-than-life culinary creations.
Emeril Lagasse of Massachusetts and Katie Lee from West Virginia, both amass a whopping 726 thousand searches, further painting a scene of the rich culinary landscape the US is home to. On one end, Lagasse's several cookbooks and his National Best Recipe award for turkey and hot sausage chili reflect the chef’s flair for infusing traditional dishes with a punch of bold seasoning. Meanwhile, the familiar face of Katie Lee, which has been gracing the small screen for over a decade, takes an approach to cooking that anchors in a soulful and comforting nature reflective of her home state.
| Rank | Chef Name | State | Year's Google Searches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guy Fieri | Ohio | 4,416,000 |
| 2 | Bobby Flay | New York | 1,980,000 |
| 3 | Buddy Valastro | New Jersey | 1,086,000 |
| 4 | Emeril Lagasse | Massachusetts | 726,000 |
| 5 | Katie Lee | West Virginia | 726,000 |
| 6 | Andrew Zimmern | New York | 594,000 |
| 7 | Mario Batali | Washington | 594,000 |
| 8 | David Chang | Virginia | 486,000 |
| 9 | Graham Elliot | Washington | 486,000 |
| 10 | Antonia Lofaso | California | 397,200 |
| 11 | Thomas Keller | California | 397,200 |
| 12 | Gesine Bullock-Prado | District of Colombia | 397,200 |
| 13 | Duff Goldman | Michigan | 325,200 |
| 14 | Grant Achatz | Michigan | 325,200 |
| 15 | Michael Symon | Ohio | 325,200 |
| 16 | Rick Bayless | Oklahoma | 325,200 |
| 17 | Michael Voltaggio | Maryland | 266,400 |
| 18 | Scott Conant | Connecticut | 217,200 |
| 19 | Chris Bianco | New York | 217,200 |
| 20 | Tyler Florence | South Carolina | 217,200 |
Methodology: A list of well-known living chefs born in each country and US state was collected, totaling 1720 chefs. The global Google search volume made for each name in the last 12 months (November 2022 to October 2023 inclusive) was summed and compared. The chef with the highest number of searches was named most searched chef in their country of birth. Data source: Google Keyword Planner. Data correct as of December 2023. Analysis has taken into account any name ambiguity.
Any recommendations for chefs born in North Dakota or Wyoming that should be included in this study, please email explorepr@propellernet.co.uk
