Alberto Chicote

Alberto Chicote del Olmo is an acclaimed chef, restaurateur, television presenter, and author. He is widely recognized for hosting the highly successful Spanish adaptation of Kitchen Nightmares, titled Pesadilla en la cocina (2012), and for leading the culinary reality competition series Top Chef (2013 to 2017). After graduating from the Escuela Superior de Hostelería y Turismo de Madrid, Chicote solidified his culinary reputation in the 1990s by working in prestigious kitchens such as Lúculo, Zalacaín, and La Recoleta. He later became a pioneer of fusion cuisine in Spain by seamlessly blending traditional gastronomy with Asian ingredients and techniques at the helm of the restaurants NODO (1998) and Pan de Lujo (2006). His innovative culinary style earned him the prestigious Chef of the Year award at the Madrid Fusión international congress in 2005.As a modern restaurateur and entrepreneur, he founded the successful Spanish Japanese tavern concept Yakitoro in 2014, followed by the landmark restaurant Puertalsol in 2016, located in Madrid's iconic public square, later parting ways with both ventures. Since 2022, alongside Inmaculada Núñez, he runs Restaurante Omeraki in Madrid, a fine dining establishment focusing on market fresh seasonal cuisine that holds a Repsol Sun distinction and is featured in the Michelin Guide.Beyond his gastronomic career, Chicote has built an extensive television portfolio in Spain, hosting investigative and entertainment shows like ¿Te lo vas a comer? (2018), the competitive format Batalla de restaurantes (2024), and the hospitality makeover show Servicio secreto x Chicote (2026). He has also made acting cameos in mainstream Spanish cinema, appearing in comedies such as Perdiendo el norte (2015) and Santiago Segura's box office hit Padre no hay más que uno 2 (2020).