Edin Džemat, World-Renowned Chef: Bosnia and Herzegovina Has the Best Street Food in the World

Edin Džemat is one of the most popular chefs of today. He is originally from Prozor. He was educated and grew up in Sweden. He is the recipient of many international awards. Several months ago, the global brand Caterpillar hired him for a highly popular advertisement. 

He has cooked for Bill Gates, Elton John, and has cooked for the Swedish king and queen multiple times...

„It is a job I love and in which I am constantly innovating,“ says Džemat in an interview with the Patria agency, answering a question about his global success.

He says he always wanted to be a chef, even when it wasn't so popular, including within his own family, which suggested he pursue another profession. Chefs, he says, were once seen as someone who sits by a pot and stirs beans. Today, that is far from the case. Chefs are respected people all over the world. They work on big projects and travel a lot. He notes that TV channels about food preparation are among the most watched in the world.

„It is a nice but specific job. I would say it is more of a lifestyle. You work when others are resting. You work a lot, the days are long, and you work on weekends. On one hand, you have the citizens, whom you serve, and on the other hand, you have the ingredients, whose quality also determines a lot. But, in any case, you enjoy this job, and that is its advantage,“ says Džemat.

Speaking about the major clients he has cooked for, he says there was a bit of nervousness at first, but today it is just routine for him. Big stars are not nearly as demanding as one might think.

„There is no difference between my clients for me. Perhaps there is a bit more preparation when I work for some heads of state, but essentially I always do the same thing,“ says Džemat.

Asked how possible it is to maintain an indigenous cuisine in a world of globalization, Džemat believes it is possible, citing as examples some nations that strongly uphold their cuisines.

„Take the prime ministers of France, Spain, Japan, and some other countries where citizens are proud of their cuisines. And not only that, they invest a lot in modernizing their own cuisines,“ says Džemat, adding that people in the Balkans are not yet ready to do the same things.

This world-renowned chef says that Bosnia and Herzegovina has by far the best street food in the world.

„It is calculated based on what you get for what you pay. You cannot compare any hamburger or pizza with a pie or ćevapi. Because our dishes have quality and require effort to prepare,“ says Džemat.

„A pizza in Sweden costs seven to eight euros. And, what is pizza – dough with whatever you have on it. On the other hand, a pie requires much more effort,“ he says.

Edin Džemat believes that Bosnia and Herzegovina could profit much better from its rivers, history, and food, but that it requires effort and marketing that will certainly pay off.