Peter Knogl from the Cheval Blanc restaurant in the Basel hotel Les Trois Rois has been crowned Swiss Chef of the Year 2011 by the Gault Millau guide.

Knogl received the recognition for his classic French cooking, with its “lightness, personal signature and intense sauces”.

However, with 18 Gault Millau points, the German-born Knogl is still behind the exclusive Swiss club of those with 19 points. This has now shrunk to six following two retirements but remains dominated by restaurants in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.

Overall, 17 other restaurants have 18 points, according to the prestigious French gastronomic guide.

The new Gault Millau guide for Switzerland lists 835 restaurants and 100 hotels, awarding them points on a scale of up to 20.

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