Viki Geunes

Viki’s hospitality career began in the unlikeliest of places: at a college for Industrial Engineering. Gifted in sciences, he had decided to pursue a career in engineering. However, working as a waiter to support himself alongside his course, he soon realised that his attention was more caught up in the world of restaurants than in engineering, and that his purpose was in the kitchen. So, he set out on a journey of self-teaching, devouring all the cookbooks he could find. Boasting a photographic memory, Viki soon found his feet and developed a razor-sharp culinary intuition that still guides him today.

Viki opened Zilte in 1996 with his wife, Viviane. In 2004, the restaurant won its first Michelin star. Viki was named Gault & Millau Young Top Chef in 2005, a second star was awarded in 2008, and he was named Gault & Millau Chef of the Year in 2009. In 2021, he achieved his dream of the third star. Now, Zilte is one of only two 3-starred restaurants in Belgium, and Viki is an inspirational mentor for fellow Belgian chefs and for young restaurateurs across the industry.