Antonia Klugmann founded "L'Argine a Vencò," awarded with a MICHELIN Star and 4 hats by the 2019 Espresso Guide. She has won various accolades, including the title of Best Female Chef from Identità Golose and the Espresso Guide. Her cuisine is a sublime fusion of the local region, emotions, and memories.
Born in 1979 in Trieste, Antonia Klugmann always had a passion for sailing and cooking, but she only entered the world of gastronomy after completing her studies at a classical high school and passing a fair number of exams at the Law Faculty in Milan. She left her studies and before fully committing to the role of a chef, she embarked on a culinary training journey at the prestigious Altopalato school, studying gastronomy and pastry. Her first hands-on experience came through an apprenticeship with chef Raffaello Mazzolini, followed by various other experiences across Italy.
After a serious car accident that forced her into a forced pause, even more determined, she returned to work in 2006. In collaboration with her partner Romano De Feo, she opened "Antico Foledor Conte Lovaria" in Pavia di Udine. Her cuisine is an ode to seasonality and the plant kingdom, the two fundamentals that define her style. Explosive and tireless, Antonia participates in competitions and events: in 2009, she's a finalist for Best Emerging Chef in Northern Italy; she wins the tournament for newcomers in the 2009-2010 edition of the popular italian TV show "La Prova del Cuoco" and takes part in the taste workshop curated by Paolo Marchi as part of the Ein Prosit event in Tarvisio.
In 2011, the restaurant closes, but her ambition always drives her forward. Antonia moves to "Ridotto" in Venice for a few months, then in 2013, she arrives in Dolegna del Collio, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, where she opens "L'Argine a Vencò" the following year. The restaurant quickly earns a MICHELIN Star and in 2019, 4 hats from the Espresso Guide, thanks to the cuisine that, using local ingredients, expresses not only the terroir but also the emotions and memories of the chef. In 2016, Antonia is the Best Female Chef for Identità Golose, and the following year, she earns the same title from the Espresso Guide. Since 2017, she has taken part in various editions of MasterChef and other TV programs, and she's also an ambassador for Illy coffee.
