Ljubica Komlenić is a successful culinary expert from Bač (Vojvodina), known as Masterchef judge and Novak Đoković’s longtime cook. She was born in Serbia and At the age of 19, she went to Italy where she completed her studies in gastronomy and built an enviable international career. Today, she is the only woman in the world with WorldChefs Level A in the category of kitchen and confectionery, which is the highest possible judge certificate in cooking. She has been living and working in Italy for more than 20 years, and stands out as an innovative cook, educator and humanitarian.
Key information about Ljubica Komlenić:
- born in Bač, Vojvodina; After high school, she went to Italy.
- finished Faculty of Gastronomy in Italy.
- The only woman in the world with WorldChefs Level A certificate for kitchen and confectionery.
- She is the mother of three children and has lived in Italy for more than 27 years.
- Masterchef Serbia Judge (Season 4, 2025).
- Long-time cook and nutritional consultant of tennis player Novak Đoković.
- Co-founder of the humanitarian organization Chefs for life.
Early life and education
Ljubica Komlenić grew up in Bač, a small town in Vojvodina, and already as a young girl she decided to look for a more successful future. She moved to Italy when she was 19 years old. – She arrived with one suitcase and borrowed 200 convertible marks at the time. First, she learned the language by babysitting the children, and then she entered the Faculty of Gastronomy. After graduation in gastronomy, she “Michaelin Coordinator” in the Italian culinary world. Working alongside kitchens with Michelin stars and leading pastry chefs, she has significantly improved her skills and acquired prestige in the profession.
During her studies and the beginnings of her career, Ljubica often did the most difficult jobs in the kitchen to prove herself. First, she washed the dishes and got to know the basics of cooking, and it was from that period that her desire to one day be the head of her own kitchen originated. Despite challenges and current ignorance (says that at the beginning ‘I didn’t even know how to bake one egg’), her determination did not give up. On the contrary, this motivated her to constantly learn and progress, which later proved to be crucial for her success.
Career in Italy and international success
In Italy, Ljubica Komlenić advanced to leading positions. She became valued Chef and consultant for cooking, and she especially stood out in her work with top restaurants and chef education. She graduated from the Faculty of Gastronomy, and after that formal education she continued to develop her career: she worked with chefs who hold Michelin stars and earned the title Worldchefs Level A Judges For Hot Kitchen and confectionery – a unique status among women in the culinary world.
She is also employed as coordinator in Italy, gathering and educating chefs and confectioners at the Academy in Milan. Thanks to this position, she established cooperation with numerous renowned chefs and became known for her innovative recipes and high standards in cooking. With many years of dedication, she perfected her knowledge about traditional and modern cuisine, often emphasizing the importance of precise ingredients and techniques. This deep expertise particularly stood out in her collaboration with top athletes.
Cooperation with Novak Djokovic
One of the most interesting segments of Ljubica’s career is collaboration with tennis legend Novak Djokovic. The proverbially demanding menu, which combines nutritional needs and top tastes, is prepared by violet. She has been the head chef of Djokovic’s meal for years, adapting their diet to specific health and sports needs.
She met Đoković in 2017 at a tennis tournament in Rome, where she managed a team of 300 chefs for competitors and guests. They recognized her name on the jacket, soon connected and started a collaboration. From the experience of working with elite athletes, Ljubica further improved her knowledge of healthy-planned cooking: Specific gluten-free diets, carefully selecting ingredients and controlling temperature preparation, which is essential for top athletes. For example, due to Djokovic’s eating habits, she developed an authoritative point of view on gluten-free nutrition and the balance of protein, salt and minerals in meals.
Masterchef Serbia and television career
After years of a successful career and reputation gained in Italy, Ljubica Komlenić received an invitation to become Jury member of the popular show MasterChef Serbia. For the upcoming fourth season of the culinary competition (autumn 2025), the production hired her as a permanent participant with already experienced bosses Filip Ćirić and Nenad Atanasković.
As a masterchef, Ljubica stood out with her strict but fair approach. She is known for unusual questions for competitors who test their culinary knowledge and technique. With her life story, she often inspires young chefs – from a slow rise as a dishwasher to a world judge and television star. Her life lessons about effort, learning and faith in her own dreams are often the topic of an interview, and the motivational story that ‘she swore before God that no one will ever be her boss’ additionally left the audience breathless.
Masterchef Serbia is the platform on which Ljubica shares her rich experience: it helps competitors to understand the importance of learning culinary theory, but also passion for cooking. As a judge, he emphasizes that ‘the boss without people washing dishes is nothing’ and encourages teamwork and respect for all members of the kitchen staff.
Humanitarian work and achievements
In addition to her culinary career, Ljubica is also active in humanitarian projects. She co-founded the initiative Chefs for life together with his Italian colleague Diego Toscani, who connects top chefs for charity. The goal of this organization is to collect funds for hospitals and communities through gala dinners and promotions, for example donations to children’s hospitals in Florence and other areas. As Brand Manager Chefs for Life, Ljubica leads the team of humanitarian chefs and actively promotes socially responsible cooking.
Among her important achievements is the coaching role – Ljubica was appointed as head coach Serbian national team at the 2020 World Culinary Olympiad in Stuttgart. With this, she contributed to the development of the kitchen profession in the region, imparting her rich knowledge to young talents.
Conclusion
Ljubica Komlenić is an example of how persistence and love for cooking can take far. From humble beginnings in Vojvodina to the peaks of world culinary and television studio, her story is inspiring. In her work, she confirms that dreams come true through dedicated work, constant learning and a big heart – as she herself says, ‘We are careful of those who wash the dishes, because without them even the best recipe cannot be served’.
Are you interested in more about Ljubica Komlenić and cooking? Follow our pages for the latest interviews, recipes and stories from the cooking world. Share the article with friends and join the culinary community on social networks so you don’t miss future inspirations and novelties.
