Executive Chef Victor Borg honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award

Maltese chef Victor Borg has been recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the WRMC Awards 2025.

Grain’s official announcement celebrated this milestone, stating: “This prestigious recognition celebrates Chef Victor’s remarkable journey, his dedication to the art of cuisine, and his pivotal role in shaping the culinary excellence that defines the Grain brand today. This award is not just a reflection of his personal achievements but also a testament to the pride and excellence that Grain embodies.”

Mr Borg’s journey in the culinary world began at the age of 15, honing his skills at one of Malta’s first five-star hotels before earning a degree in Food and Beverage Services from the Institute of Tourism Studies. He then went on to secure positions at world-class establishments, including Gordon Ramsay’s Aubergine in London and Bagatelle, a two-MICHELIN-starred restaurant in Oslo.

In 1999, he opened his own restaurant, Mange Tout in Xemxija, which was voted Best Overall Restaurant in Malta for seven consecutive years.

His influence also extended to the competitive culinary scene, where he won the National Chef of the Year award at the age of 24, making him the youngest recipient of the title. Over 15 years, he competed with Malta’s National Team of Chefs, serving as captain for eight of them and securing two gold medals at the World Association of Chef Societies (WACS), an achievement no other Maltese chef has matched.

Under his leadership, Under Grain was awarded a MICHELIN star just five months after its opening in 2020, retaining the accolade for the following two years. In 2022, its sister restaurant, Grain Street, received a Bib Gourmand after just three months of service, making Grain the first Maltese brand to house two MICHELIN-rated restaurants under one roof.

His influence in the culinary sphere also reached television audiences as one of the resident judges on MasterChef Malta.