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Djordjo Cetkovic — Executive Chef and Restaurant & F&B Consultant, black and gold Serbian heritage designExecutive Chef Djordjo Cetkovic in chef whites

Singapore · Europe · International

Executive Chef
Djordjo Cetkovic
Restaurant & F&B Consultant

Restaurant openings, kitchen budgets, menu engineering, food-cost control, zero-waste systems and team development for Singapore, Asia and Europe.

Singapore · EuropeEst. 2003
Singapore Market✦Restaurant & F&B Consulting✦Kitchen Budget✦Food Cost✦Zero Waste✦Singapore services ↗Europe services ↗
23+Years in professional kitchens
6Countries across Europe and Asia
145Heritage recipes in the interactive cookbook
6Core consulting disciplines

01 — The Chef

Precision with
a point of view.

Djordjo Cetkovic is a Serbian gastronomy consultant based in Singapore.

His cooking is grounded in the generosity of Balkan and Mediterranean tables, sharpened by more than two decades of international restaurant experience. His career has moved through Serbia, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal and Singapore — each place adding technique, discipline and a deeper understanding of hospitality.

As an Executive Chef and independent Restaurant & F&B Consultant, he leads with clarity: strong flavours, honest ingredients, disciplined execution and kitchen cultures where standards are understood, not merely announced.

Singapore is also home. Married to Singaporean Masziana Ali Cetkovic, a former Singapore Police Force officer with 15 years of dedicated service, Djordjo’s life connects Serbia and Singapore on a deeply personal level. Through food, professional exchange and community relationships, he works to strengthen understanding between the two countries and to represent Serbia with dignity, openness and pride.

His ambassadorial message reaches beyond cuisine: Serbia is a country of culture, education and remarkable historical depth. The Vinča culture, one of Southeast Europe’s most important prehistoric civilisations, flourished millennia before the Egyptian pyramids. By sharing this wider story, Djordjo aims to replace outdated stereotypes with curiosity, respect and genuine connection.

“A memorable restaurant is built when identity, people and discipline move in the same direction.”
Djordjo Cetkovic Executive Chef

Beyond the kitchen

The private life of
Chef Djordjo.

More about Chef Djordjo’s private life ↗
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Djordjo Cetkovic with his wife Masziana Ali CetkovicDjordjo and Masziana Ali Cetkovic together
Beyond the kitchen

My wife.
My greatest support.

Masziana Ali Cetkovic is the steady presence beside every demanding service, new beginning and international chapter.

Before beginning the next chapter of her life, Masziana served for 15 years with the Singapore Police Force. Her career reflects a deep commitment to public service, discipline, responsibility and the community—qualities she continues to bring to everything she does.

Her support gives strength to a life built between Serbia and Singapore. Together, we believe that respect, family and genuine hospitality are the foundations of every lasting achievement.

“Behind every professional journey is someone who believes in it before the world sees the result.”
Contemporary lamb course by Chef Djordjo Cetkovic

Culinary philosophy

Rooted in memory.
Built for now.

Tradition is not a museum piece. It is a living language — one that can be respected, questioned and expressed with contemporary technique.

  • 01 Flavour before fashion
  • 02 Discipline without losing soul
  • 03 Hospitality as a complete experience

02 — Consulting

From vision
to service.

Practical advisory for Singapore restaurant owners, investors and hospitality groups — from feasibility, kitchen budget and menu development to opening, training and daily performance.

Planning a restaurant in Singapore or strengthening an existing operation?

Request a consultation ↗
×01 · Consulting service

Restaurant openings

From feasibility and concept to soft opening: a practical launch plan for new restaurants in Singapore and across Asia.

AssessmentClear action planHands-on implementation
Discuss this service ↗
×02 · Consulting service

Concept & menu

A distinct culinary identity and executable menu shaped by local demand, seasonality, speed of service and guest appeal.

AssessmentClear action planHands-on implementation
Discuss this service ↗
×03 · Consulting service

Kitchen budget & design

Equipment planning, production flow, staffing assumptions and capital priorities aligned with the business model.

AssessmentClear action planHands-on implementation
Discuss this service ↗
×04 · Consulting service

Food cost & zero waste

Recipe costing, yields, smart purchasing, whole-product use, waste tracking, SOPs and quality standards that protect both margin and resources.

AssessmentClear action planHands-on implementation
Discuss this service ↗
×05 · Consulting service

Team training

Hands-on station training, leadership coaching, service simulations and clear standards for confident kitchen teams.

AssessmentClear action planHands-on implementation
Discuss this service ↗
×06 · Consulting service

Operational recovery

Focused audits and corrective plans for restaurants facing inconsistent food, slow service, high cost or weak structure.

AssessmentClear action planHands-on implementation
Discuss this service ↗

03 — Career

A journey across
cultures and kitchens.

Singapore

Executive Chef & Consultant

Independent restaurant and F&B consulting, menu direction, kitchen systems and team development.

Asia

Culinary Ambassador

Representing Serbian culinary heritage and building professional bridges across Asia.

International

Worldchefs Community

Active participation in the global culinary community, including Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2024.

Europe

Professional Foundation

A career shaped through Serbia, Austria, Switzerland, Germany and Portugal before Singapore.

Chef’s Field Notes

Principles behind
the precision.

Practical ideas developed through twenty-three years of opening kitchens, leading teams and serving guests across Europe and Asia.

01 · Flavour

Season in layers

Build seasoning through the process. Salt should reveal flavour, not announce itself at the end.

02 · Texture

Create contrast

A memorable plate needs tension: crisp against tender, bright against rich, warm against cool.

03 · Service

Design for the pass

A dish is only successful when the team can reproduce it beautifully during the busiest service.

04 · Leadership

Make standards visible

Show the result, explain the reason and repeat the standard until excellence becomes habit.

05 · Costing

Cost every component

Profit is protected in grams, yields and waste control — never by compromising the guest experience.

06 · Identity

Edit with courage

Remove anything that does not strengthen the story. Clarity is the foundation of a signature style.

✦

“The recipe is the map. Technique is the vehicle. The chef’s judgement decides where the journey ends.”

Signature repertoire

Bold flavours.
Quiet confidence.

A personal culinary language connecting Balkan memory, Mediterranean generosity and contemporary restaurant craft.

Signature beef course by Chef Djordjo Cetkovic
01 · Fire

Beef · Ember · Jus

Depth, restraint and the clean power of open-fire cooking.

Signature lamb course by Chef Djordjo Cetkovic
02 · Heritage

Lamb · Herb · Earth

Mediterranean warmth interpreted with modern precision.

Mediterranean dishes by Chef Djordjo Cetkovic
03 · Hospitality

The Shared Table

Food designed for conversation, generosity and return visits.

HERITAGE ✦ PRECISION ✦ HOSPITALITY ✦ LEADERSHIP ✦ HERITAGE ✦ PRECISION ✦ HOSPITALITY
Djordjo Cetkovic with the Serbian culinary delegation at Worldchefs CongressWorldchefs · Singapore 2024

International representation

Serbian roots.
Asian perspective.

Serving as a culinary ambassador for Serbia in Asia, Djordjo champions the country’s food heritage while building connections through the international chef community.

Culinary Federation of SerbiaAmbassador for Asia
Association of Chefs of SerbiaProfessional community
Worldchefs / WACSInternational culinary network

Culinary diplomacy

A professional bridge
between two worlds.

As Ambassador for Asia of the Culinary Federation of Serbia, Djordjo connects chefs, associations and hospitality communities through food, education and professional exchange.

His role is a form of culinary diplomacy: representing Serbian culinary heritage with dignity while building practical relationships in Singapore and across Asia. Serbia and Singapore established diplomatic relations on 22 August 1967, and official sources describe the relationship as friendly and developing.

1967 Bilateral relations establishedAsia Culinary Federation of Serbia ambassadorial scopeSG × RS Culture, chefs and hospitality exchange
Read the full story ↗
×Serbia × Singapore · Culinary diplomacy

A bridge built through hospitality.

Djordjo’s work brings together Serbian culinary identity and Singapore’s international hospitality culture. As Ambassador for Asia of the Culinary Federation of Serbia, he promotes professional exchange, education and connections between chefs and associations—not as a state diplomat, but as an official culinary representative.

The wider relationship has strong foundations: Serbia and Singapore established diplomatic relations in 1967; both participate in multilateral cooperation, and official Serbian sources describe bilateral relations as traditionally friendly and moving forward.

Professional culinary network

Built through
people and craft.

Professional relationships shaped through education, hospitality and the international competition community.

Djordjo Cetkovic with Chef Dejan Stanković
Chef Dejan StankovićPresident, Culinary Federation of Serbia. WACS judge since 2015. Head chef, Osteria Mozzarella, Belgrade.
Djordjo Cetkovic with Chef Miloš Jovanović
Chef Miloš JovanovićPresident, Serbian Chefs Association. WACS judge since 2017. Mali Vrabac / La Petit Piaf / Skadarlija. Trains young chefs. President of the judging panel, Gastro Kup Srbija 2023.

Cultural connections

Hospitality beyond
the kitchen.

Encounters with distinguished Serbian artists whose work carries Serbian culture to audiences at home and abroad.

Djordjo Cetkovic with Serbian actor Viktor Savić
Viktor SavićActor — Montevideo (Milutinac), Senke nad Balkanom, Vera, 12 reči, Vojna akademija.
Djordjo Cetkovic with Serbian actor Slobodan Stefanović
Slobodan StefanovićPrincipal, Terazije Theatre — Mamma Mia, Cabaret, The Producers, Zona Zamfirova. Television: Stižu dolari.

04 — The Signature Book

The Djordjo Cetkovic Collection · English edition

The Grand Heritage
Cookbook

145 heritage recipes in five books: authentic Serbian heritage, Hellenic cookery, Hilandar fasting pots, the royal kitchen of the Nemanjići, and modern fine dining from old Serbian dishes. Every recipe serves four, with full ingredients, preparation and nutrition per person.

✦ 145 recipes◇ Five books◎ Recipes for 4◎ Nutrition per person

Written as a working chef’s book: full ingredients, careful preparation, service notes and practical guidance shaped by more than two decades in professional kitchens.

06 — Public Record

Verified professional presence.

07 — Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers.
Practical next steps.

Restaurant consulting tailored to the stage, scale and commercial priorities of each project.

What restaurant consulting services does Djordjo provide?+

Djordjo supports restaurant openings, concept and menu development, kitchen planning, recipe costing, food-cost control, SOPs, staff training and operational recovery.

Is Djordjo available for projects outside Singapore?+

Yes. Djordjo is based in Singapore and is available for selected hospitality projects across Asia and internationally.

Can Djordjo help before a restaurant opens?+

Yes. Pre-opening work can include concept review, kitchen workflow, equipment priorities, menu engineering, recipe standards, staffing plans, training and soft-opening preparation.

How can I request a consultation?+

Send an email or WhatsApp message with your location, restaurant concept, opening timeline and the main challenge you want to solve.

Selected international projects

Build a restaurant
with a point of view.

Restaurant openings · F&B consulting · Kitchen budgets · Menu engineering · Food cost · Zero waste · SOPs · Team training

Start a conversation ↗WhatsApp: +65 8229 5457

The Grand Heritage Cookbook 299 pages · 145 recipes