The Republic of Moldova became the regional capital of gastronomy for a day. For the first time, culinary professionals, HORECA entrepreneurs, and fine-dining enthusiasts gathered at the Chefs Forum—an event unprecedented in scale and expertise, organized in partnership with Realitatea Media Group.
The Chefs Forum transformed the Chisinau Arena into a laboratory of culinary excellence, where technique, creativity, and innovation came together. Participants attended:
- Masterclasses led by Michelin-starred chefs
- Live demonstrations of molecular gastronomy and contemporary techniques
- Presentations on gastronomic entrepreneurship, from concept to successful business
- Live culinary competitions and dedicated networking sessions for industry professionals
Top international and local guests
From Italy:
- Vincenzo Manicone – Michelin-starred chef
- Salvatore Morello – Michelin-starred chef
- Francesco Sanna – co-founder of Casa Rinaldi Moldova and president of Associazione Cuochi Italiani Moldova
- Gianni Di Lella – three-time world champion pizzaiolo
From Moldova:
- Alexandru Comerzan – founder of three top restaurants
- Oxana Cretu – Ambassador of Moldovan Gastronomy in France
- Slava Mitioglo – brand chef in several renowned restaurants
From Ukraine:
- Artur Protchenko – chef and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience
Special guest:
- Oybek Haydaraliev – gastronomic visionary and entrepreneur with 687 restaurants in 42 countries.
Presenter: Traian Stoianov
Media partnership and official recognition
Realitatea Media Group supported the event as the official media partner. In recognition of the group’s contribution to promoting the event and developing Moldova’s gastronomic culture, general coordinators Vitalie Iurco and Valeriu Derevenciuc awarded Realitatea Media Group a diploma of appreciation.
Vitalie Iurco, General Coordinator of Chefs Forum:
“We thank Realitatea Media Group for its exceptional support and professionalism in covering the event. Special thanks to Traian Stoianov, who brought energy and elegance to the presentation. The Chefs Forum proved that Moldova can host international-level gastronomic events, and this is just the beginning. In 2026, we will expand the format and bring even more top chefs.”
Valeriu Derevenciuc, General Coordinator of Chefs Forum:
“The Chefs Forum’s success shows that the public and HORECA professionals want platforms for dialogue, creativity, and inspiration. We thank our media partners at Realitatea for their involvement and visibility. We will make the Chefs Forum an annual tradition and a benchmark for gastronomy in the entire region.”
The collaboration between the Chefs Forum and Realitatea Media Group increased the event’s visibility and helped connect Moldova to international gastronomic trends. The organizers confirmed that they have already started preparations for the 2026 edition.