Stjepan Vukadin Biography: One of the most famous young Croatian chefs. Born in 1993 in the fishing village of Rogoznica in Dalmatia, he grew up in a large family with six siblings as a boy as a boy, but at the age of 14 he entered the seminary for a short time with the intention of becoming a priest. After a few months, however, he discovered that his true passion was cooking, he left the seminary and enrolled in the secondary cooking school in Šibenik.
He received a basic education in Šibenik, and then developed his cooking skills by working in various kitchens, including abroad. He started his professional journey in his hometown – he worked in the kitchen of Marin Naj Frape in Rogoznica, which was his first serious culinary school. Already at the age of 24, he got the opportunity to be the head chef in a restaurant in Split, where he achieved notable results – he tripled the kitchen turnover three times and earned a Michelin recommendation.
Cooking career and restaurants
Today, Stjepan Vukadin is the co-owner and head chef of the restaurant Il Ponte In Trogir, located next to the famous wooden bridge that leads to the historic city center. Before that, in 2017 he became a chef in a renowned Split restaurant a grain of salt, where his talent, courage and creativity in the kitchen could be seen. His culinary style is based on fresh Dalmatian foods – primarily fish and seafood – and on combining traditional flavors with modern trends. Vukadin insists on quality local raw materials and believes that ‘people make a restaurant’ – without a good team, no chef can achieve great results.
Key moments in Stjepan Vukadin’s career:
- 2017 – takes over the kitchen of the Split restaurant a grain of salt, where he confirms his talent and creativity.
- 2021. – opens and takes over the restaurant Il Ponte in Trogir, whose dishes quickly win the hearts of the guests.
- 2021 – Furthermore – becomes one of the main participants as a member of the jury of the culinary show Masterchef Croatia.
- Prizes: His efforts were rewarded with the recommendation of the Michelin guide (the so-called ‘Michelin Plate’) and high grades in the prestigious Gault&Millau guide (three points and 15.5 points).
Vukadin’s work was quickly recognized by the gastronomic audience and critics – Il Ponte entered the Michelin guide after only half a year of work, and Gault&Millau ranked him among the best young Croatian chefs. His creations, often inspired by Mediterranean and Dalmatian traditions, are characterized by impeccable presentation and harmony of taste. He repeatedly emphasized that his passion for cooking is visible in every dish, especially in those with local fish and seafood.
MasterChef Croatia (Jury)
Stjepan Vukadin has also become a recognizable television personality: since 2021 he has been participating in the jury of the popular show Masterchef Croatia. With the return of the series, Nova TV confirmed that it was he with his colleagues Damir Tomljanović and Melkior Bašić who will evaluate the competitors in the fourth season, which began in 2021. Since then, he has been continuously in the role of the jury, and in the latest seasons In 2024 and 2025, he worked with Goran Kočiš and Mario Mihelj. His main contribution to MasterChef is to promote local flavors and professional attitude towards nutrition, and audiences appreciate him as a stricter but fair judge who encourages competitors to work exclusively with fresh foods. According to information from the show, he is still present as a member of the jury in the season that airs in 2025 – in March 2025, Nova TV announced the return of the same trio of judges (Mihelj, Vukadin, Kočiš) for the new season.
Personal life and interesting things
Despite his youth, Vukadin had a rich career. He has been married to Katarina since 2019 and is the father of a son, Gabriel. Cooperation with this wife began in the kitchen – they met during their joint work. As an interesting fact, his first spoken word as a child was ‘aunt’ (aunt), not mom or dad. Even today, he often points out that his family gives him strength, but that kitchen is his life’s calling.
Style and philosophy: Vukadin’s philosophy in the kitchen can be described as a combination of tradition and modernity. He believes that ‘the charm of the restaurant lies in a good team and top-quality food’. This is precisely why he often emphasizes: ‘The food must be fresh, local and processed so that all the blessings remain in it’. In this way, his guests enjoy a dish reminiscent of childhood flavors (grandmother’s kitchen), but presented on a modern, attractive level (high bistronomy).
Awards and recognitions: For a decade of work in kitchens, he has brought him numerous awards. In addition to the already mentioned Michelin recommendation, the high points rating in the Gault&Millau guide (3 points) confirm its quality. He was also recognized by his colleagues – for example, at the renowned Mediterranean Cuisine Festival in Lošinj, he was described as a chef whose ‘passionate commitment to fresh food’ brought ‘recognition and respect from colleagues’.
Conclusion
Stjepan Vukadin is an example of a young generation of Croatian chefs that combines passion, innovation and respect for tradition. Although he is still in his thirties, he has fifteen years of working in professional kitchens and is already completely established among top chefs. As a permanent member of the Masterchef jury, he also marked the popularization of quality gastronomy in Croatia. Lovers of good food could follow it through a culinary show or by visiting a restaurant Il Ponte in Trogir, where his team creates attractive dishes inspired by Dalmatia every day. More information and the latest news about his work can be followed through the media and social networks.
Sources: The information in the text was collected from reliable sources including media portals and official sites; Key facts are illustrated by concrete quotes from sources like Taste the Mediterranean, Masterchef Croatia Wikipedia pages, and interviews and profiles published in daily newspapers and professional publications.
