Filip Ćirić is a Serbian chef and co-owner of the restaurant homa in Belgrade. He stands out as a pioneer of contemporary Serbian gastronomy, which combines traditional ingredients with innovative cooking techniques. With his work and charisma, he quickly became a recognizable name among lovers of good food. In addition to working in kitchens, Ćirić has also profiled himself as an educator and since 2023 he has been one of the members of the jury of the television show Masterchef Serbia.
Early life and education
Filip Ćirić was born in Pirot (Serbia), where he showed his passion for cooking as a teenager. Already at the age of 14, he worked as an assistant in the local kitchen, perfecting basic culinary skills. After high school education focused on management (High School in Novi Sad), Ćirić gained professional experience in top Belgrade restaurants. This combination of knowledge in gastronomy and business prepared a ground for further professional development for him.
Career and restaurants
At the end of 2004, Ćirić opened his first highly culinary restaurant. Shortly after that, in partnership with his colleague Vlastimir Puhal, he founded a restaurant in 2012 homa in Belgrade. Thanks to minimalism and a creative approach to food, Homa became a pioneer of the fine dining scene in Serbia. The restaurant is named after the mythical Homa bird, and the menu is based on local ingredients in a modern expression. Filip also introduced the concept of tasting menus with wine matings, which was a pioneering move in Belgrade gastronomy. The successes quickly followed: homa in 2021 became the first Belgrade restaurant recommended in Michelin guide to the best restaurants.
Prizes and awards
Some of the most significant recognitions and achievements of Filip Ćirić are:
- Recommendation Michelin guide for the Homa restaurant (Belgrade, 2021).
- Title “Cheer of the Future 2024” chosen by the Gault&Millau guide.
- tv Masterchef Serbia (season 2023/24).
Masterchef Serbia and media activity
Since 2023, Ćirić has also been a member of the jury of a culinary competition Masterchef Serbia. In the selection of the jury for the first season of this popular show (broadcast at the end of 2023 on First Television), Filip was chosen among 60 registered candidates as one of the three most qualified professional chefs. In interviews, he announced that the jury would be extremely strict and professional, keeping high standards of food quality. Appearing in MasterChef further increased its recognition among the wide audience. In addition to TV performances, Ćirić is also the author of educational culinary programs – for example, he led an online cooking school ‘Master Boss in 7 Days’ which has hundreds of participants.
One of the trademarks of Ćirić’s kitchen is the careful presentation and control of taste in every dish. In the Homa restaurant, he personally examines each new dish, and he also introduced a fine dining method with tasting menus and wine matings. It is important to mention that Homa uses local and regional foods – for example, fish and meat from mountain farms, as well as original vegetables from Serbia. His philosophy is that the tradition of Serbia’s culinary is presented innovatively, so he often combines dishes inspired by memories with modern techniques.
Consulting work and mentoring
In addition to working in restaurants, Ćirić is also engaged in gastronomic counseling. In 2016, he founded a company Mint Consulting which deals with conceptualization and consulting in catering. Through this company, he designed and opened more than 40 restaurants in Serbia, and he also set up technical and technological bases in numerous hotels and catering establishments. Today, Mint Consulting is working on significant projects both in the country and abroad, which confirms Ćirić’s status as a leading expert in industry. In addition, he actively mentors young chefs with his performances and workshops – as he says, his mission is to transfer knowledge and inspire new generations of gastronomic professionals.
Conclusion
Through several decades of work, Filip Ćirić became a synonym for innovation in the kitchen and a top standard in Serbian gastronomy. His career – from a small assistant to a respected chef, restaurateur and television star – inspires many enthusiasts. If you are interested in contemporary cuisine, watch Filip Ćirić’s performances on television, visit the Homa restaurant in Belgrade or try some of its recipes. Follow his work and see why Ćirić is one of the most important names of today’s regional gastronomy.
