Amos Novak

Amos Novak (24) is a chef at the Terbotz restaurant in pitorresque town of Železna Gora, in Međimurje Region. He is the youngest member of the Croatian Culinary Association, already won a dozen bronze, silver and gold medals at the Olympics and World Culinary Cups from Luxemburg, Stuttgart, Mexico to Rimini and Azerbaijan, and the guide Gault &Millau Croatia awarded him the Trophy Young Talent for 2025. A native of Dragoslavac, he is a true ambassador of Međimurje cuisine, which he boldly promotes on the world gastronomic scene. He learned the theoretical basis at the cooking school in Prelog, and improved his professional skills at the Turist hotel in Varaždin with chef Damir Crleni. Then Silvija Horak, the chef of the Terbotz restaurant, became his mentor passing on her knowledge, allowed him to develop in his own direction and build his own culinary identity.

He links his career to his hometown, and has enough knowledge, self-confidence and creativity to reinterpret the famous Međimurje gibanica (traditional local cake) in a contemporary way, blending tradition with modern techniques and a sustainable approach to cooking. For example, in his Međimurje gibanica, the layers of dough are replaced with mousse cream. The meat from the tiblica (regionally salty meat dish) according to Amose rule, is a fine dining appetizer with crispy toast made from homemade sourdough and pickled vegetables. He is inspired by local and seasonal foods, and he wants that each of his dishes enchanted the guest by the richness of the ingredients and flavors of Međimurje region, its people and customs.