North East chefs earn international accolade

A North East restaurant has earned international culinary recognition.

Northumberland’s Restaurant Pine, located at Vallum Farm, has seen its chef-owner Cal Byerley and head chef Ian Waller listed as new entrants in the 2025 Best Chef Awards, receiving a One Knife Award. 

The event, held in Milan, celebrated chefs from more than 69 countries, highlighting the city’s influence as a global gastronomic hub.

The Best Chef Awards use a tiered Knife system to recognise culinary talent, with Three Knives marking the highest level of mastery, 

Two Knives denotes world-class expertise, while One Knife highlights chefs making significant contributions to the field. 

Cal and Ian’s award places them among 421 chefs achieving recognition at this level, reflecting their emerging impact on the international stage.

They said: “Achieving this recognition for the first time is mind-blowing; it reflects the hard work of the entire team at Pine. 

“We’re thrilled to be listed alongside so many brilliant chefs, individuals we’ve admired for years, who continue to inspire us. 

“It’s all a bit surreal, but we’ll do our best to celebrate when we have some downtime.”

Cristian Gadau, co-founder and chief executive of The Best Chef, added: “The Best Chef Awards are more than just a celebration of culinary excellence. 

“They are a reflection of a community that continues to grow and inspire. 

“With nearly double the number of voters this year, we see the global appetite for innovation, diversity, and collaboration in gastronomy stronger than ever. 

“Our mission has always been to create a platform that honours chefs not only for their skill, but also for their vision and impact, while making this world of creativity accessible to everyone who loves food. 

“Each edition of The Best Chef awards aims to create a more inclusive list for everyone, regardless of their background or income, making it less elitist and more inclusive for all humanity.”

For Restaurant Pine, which earlier this year secured a Michelin Star for the fourth year running, the accolade signals growing recognition beyond the North East, positioning the team as rising stars in the global food scene. 

It also celebrates the skill, creativity and dedication that have helped the restaurant earn a reputation for excellence locally, while now attracting attention on an international scale.

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