New Directions

We talk to Chef Nenad about reinvention and where to go after you’ve been named “Chef of the Year” by Gault-Millau.

Nenad Mlinarevic: the Modern Swiss Chef and the Victorinox Swiss Modern Kitchen Knives

With its unpolished walls, plywood surfaces and its history as a former car repair workshop and boxing venue, Die Stadthalle is a world away from the refined atmosphere of Focus, the restaurant at the Park Hotel in Vitznau where Nenad Mlinarevic made his name.

All eyes were on the gifted chef as he announced his departure from Focus. After a stellar career at some of the world’s best restaurants including Noma in Copenhagen and Schlosshotel Schauenstein in Graubünden, it was at Focus where the young head chef established himself, earning two Michelin stars and 18 Gault-Millau points within six months of his arrival.

With such an impressive track record, was it hard for this master chef to begin a new chapter, leaving behind everything he’d achieved at Focus?

“Not really,” says Nenad. “I saw it as a chance to have more freedom, to be able to create anything we wanted in the kitchen. I have no fear of pressure, so I enjoyed cooking to the standards required of my team in Vitznau and exceeding expectations, but I was also excited about having the chance to do something new”

From Gut Feeling to Stomach Pleasing

Having carved out a niche cooking solely with ingredients sourced from Switzerland, Nenad deliberately chose not to follow the same path at Die Stadthalle. “This wasn’t a conscious strategy, I’m very much driven by my gut feeling” he says. “But I really wanted to make the food and the experience at Die Stadthalle more accessible”.

He’s definitely achieved this. With an affordable eight course menu which includes crowd-pleasing flavors from around the world, Die Stadthalle is one of the most exciting pop-ups to arrive in Zurich and the reviews from both press and public are superlative.

The Swissness Feeling

Of course Nenad is still strongly connected to Switzerland and still works very closely with several Swiss suppliers with whom he has built strong relationships over the years. This is also one of the reasons that he has chosen to partner with Victorinox. “A Victorinox knife was the first knife I held in my hands when I was 16 years old and starting my training. So I feel a special bond with this brand. These knives have been an authentic part of my journey so far”.

The partnership has also allowed us to be part of Nenad’s exciting project at Die Stadthalle, where he is exclusively using our new Swiss Modern range both in the kitchen and at the table. Much as Nenad himself has done with his new venture, we’ve taken our winning kitchen knife formula (combining quality, functionality and design) and given it a fresh, contemporary spin. The Swiss Modern knives with their ergonomic walnut handles are a perfect match for the minimal and sleek setting of Die Stadthalle.

As Nenad points out “A quality knife is an absolute must for any chef and one of the most important tools of the trade. It’s just like being a travelling salesman – you need a good car or you can’t do the job properly. If you’re a chef, it’s simply not possible to create perfect dishes without a precise knife in your hands”.

Making People Happy

This isn’t the first time we’ve talked to Nenad. We’ve been watching his career closely over the past couple of years because his commitment to excellence, innovation and quality strongly mirrors our own values. For us, he’s the perfect partner because of the common mindset we share: “I like to have a firm foundation which provides a certain amount of security. This forms the solid base which then gives me the freedom to focus on creativity and innovation. This in turn helps me to reach different types of diners and basically make more people happy”. So now he’s ticked off a successful pop-up restaurant in Zürich off his To Do list, what’s next for the top chef? “I enjoy variety and challenge. I don’t want things to get boring” says Nenad. A private atelier experience, offers of collaborations from around the world and a cookbook are all on the cards. But Nenad is not necessarily looking for the fame and glory of fine dining: “I dream of doing a very simple ramen bar, or a coffee shop with a great bakery where people can come with their laptops and just hang out”.

Although Die Stadthalle has now closed its doors, Nenad and team are taking over the Bauernschänke in Zürich as of mid-March 2018. We are excited to see how this traditional restaurant will be transformed in the hands of this young, dynamic team.

Our Bestselling Chef's Knives

Swiss Classic Chef’s Knife

Because carving should be effortless, Victorinox has created the Swiss Classic Chef’s Knife to ensure smooth, uniform cuts every time. The ergonomic handle and balanced design ensure absolute stability on the cutting board. The slender, super sharp blade allows you to slice all kinds of meat with superior grace and precision.

Swiss Classic Chef’s Knife

Chef’s Knives are designed to stand up to anything on your cutting board. Their ergonomic handles and balanced design make carving a breeze. Their blades are thin and sharp so you can slice as thin as you like and as consistently as you need. Meats of any cut, fruits and vegetables in all shapes and sizes – cut them all with grace and precision.

Swiss Classic Santoku Knife, fluted edge

The Santoku Knife is the Japanese take on the general-purpose kitchen knife. It excels at slicing, dicing and mincing; but its biggest talent is being multitalented – and its true specialty is doing everything well. Thanks to its special shape, low weight and excellent balance, you'll find the Santoku to be a true all-rounder that's a joy to use day in and day out.

Classic Cutlery Block, 9 Pieces

Our Classic Cutlery Block makes a timeless countertop addition to your pared-back interior aesthetic. Compact in size, yet creative in its culinary aspirations, it’s a chopping, dicing and slicing powerhouse. Housing nine high-precision blades, spanning Paring, Table, Bread, Santoku and Carving knives, plus kitchen scissors and sharpening steel, it helps every cook raise their culinary game. Contents: Swiss Classic Paring Knife, 8 cm Swiss Classic Paring Knife, 10 cm Swiss Classic Table Knife, 11 cm Swiss Classic Bread Knife, 21 cm Swiss Classic Santoku Knife, fluted edge, 17 cm Swiss Classic Carving Knife, 22 cm Swiss Classic Carving Fork Multipurpose Kitchen Shears “Victorinox” Domestic Sharpening Steel

Swiss Classic Boning Knife

Separate meat from bone with ease with the Swiss Classic Boning Knife. The ergonomic handle and curved narrow blade of this knife enable you to employ restaurant kitchen precision whether you're deboning prime rib, the holiday turkey or a leg of lamb. Used by chefs, butchers and home cooks, this knife gets close to the bone, preserving more meat for the meal ahead.

Swiss Classic Cheese and Sausage Knife

Almost any occasion warrants a cheese board, and the Swiss Classic Cheese and Sausage Knife is the right tool to accompany it. The blade's sharp, wavy edge cuts cleanly through cheese and sausage without sticking, while the ergonomic handle ensures a firm and comfortable grip. Use the handy forked tip to serve the snacks!

Swiss Classic Office Knife

Victorinox Kitchen and Carving Knives are designed to stand up to anything on your cutting board. Their ergonomic handles and balanced design make carving a breeze. Their blades are thin and sharp so you can slice as thin as you like and as consistently as you need. Meats of any cut, fruits and vegetables in all shapes and sizes – cut them all with grace and precision.

Wood Chef’s Knife

Take the fast track to effortless carving. Our Wood Chef’s Knife makes easy work of any meat: from a succulent free-range chicken to a dry-aged rib of beef. No joint or cut stands in this blade’s way. The ergonomic handle not only ensures exceptional balance but also exhibits artisan craftsmanship and is created with the finest quality wood. This version features an extra-wide blade for ultimate precision and stability.

Wood Santoku Knife

Where perfect form and function fuse: our 17-cm Wood Santoku Knife with fluted edge is inspired by Japanese kitchen knives, world renowned for their exacting precision and robust culinary blueprint. It takes its name from the translation of ‘knife of three virtues,’ and lives up to it with multifunctional mastery. Add to this the warmth and elegance of the wooden handle and you'll easily be gliding through myriad meat cuts, fish, fruit and vegetables with equal finesse; it’s a keeper.

Grand Maître Santoku Knife

Combining beautiful form with high function, the Grand Maître Santoku Knife from the Victorinox series of forged knives has a full tang blade that is uniformly hardened and perfectly balanced. But it’s not just this blade that gives the Santoku knife its robust strength – its wooden handle continues this theme, being both elegant and hard-wearing. Hand-polished and ergonomically designed, this handle promises its user comfort in its hold and supreme ease in its use, however long that might be. This is a graceful all-rounder, designed for the precision cutting of everything from meat and fish to fruit, vegetables and cheeses, its fluted edge minimizing the chance of food sticking to its blade. For use as much in private homes as in professional establishments.

More products

Official Website

All available products and the best browsing experience in one place

Stay up to date

Stories and offers, regularly in your mailbox.

New Directions

Nenad Mlinarevic: the Modern Swiss Chef and the Victorinox Swiss Modern Kitchen Knives

From Gut Feeling to Stomach Pleasing

The Swissness Feeling

Making People Happy

Our Bestselling Chef's Knives

black

5 Available Colours

4 Available Colours

black

black

2 Available Colours

black

modified maple

modified maple

2 Available Colours

Official Website

Stay up to date

Products

About Victorinox

Info & Support

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Performance Cookies

Functional Cookies

Targeting Cookies