Pintér Katalin

According to her own account, almost her entire life has been a great gastronomic journey. It began in her grandmother’s garden, where countless vegetables and herbs grew. She was even scolded if she mixed garden thyme with wild thyme. During high school, in one summer, her search for summer work began by opening the phone book.

Hotels were listed at the top, and Katalin got a summer job in one of them. From that point on, her career choice was clear. Perhaps the best workplaces allowed her to truly get to know the profession: New York (then Hungária) Café, Duna Intercontinental, Radisson Béke Hotel, and finally Gerbeaud. Meanwhile, she diligently collected professional certificates: College of Hospitality, University of Economics, Cornell University, Szent István University. Her husband, Miklós Niszkács, was also a dedicated ambassador of gastronomy and Hungarian winemaking. Thus, at home as well as at work, everything revolved around good ingredients, cooking, and wine tasting. Katalin’s children grew up in this environment and have been working in the family business for years.

Since 2000, she has led the Gerbeaud House, where they have achieved gastronomic-historical successes. The patisserie’s offerings were renewed, Gerbeaud patisseries opened in Tokyo and Seoul, Émile House opened domestically, and the Onyx Restaurant earned two Michelin stars.

Beyond building the business, Katalin dedicates much time to training future professionals. Not only do they employ students and interns in their units, but Katalin also frequently undertakes teaching and lecturing duties. Her greatest pride is that, under the leadership of her daughter Anna, the Gerbeaud legend continues to grow. She herself now participates in the company’s life as a consultant.

Educational activities

  • Corvinus University, Hospitality and Gastronomy – instructor

Professional recognition

  • MATUR Award (for establishing and organizing the Budapest Study program, which is now continued by the Budapest Tourism Office) (1998)
  • PRO TURISMO Award (for her professional work and for reviving the Gerbeaud’s reputation – received twice) (2006)
  • Gerbeaud received the Mt. Rt. Quality Award (2006)
  • City of the Future Award (for work in the downtown area) (2009)
  • Pro Danubio Award (Internationale Touristische Werbegemeinschaft – Vienna) (2010)
  • The Onyx Restaurant received its first Michelin star (2011)
  • PRO TURISMO Award (for developing international tourism relations) (2012)
  • Member of the Tokaji Wine Order (2015)
  • Hungarian Order of Merit, Knight’s Cross (2016)
  • The Onyx Restaurant awarded 2 Michelin stars (2018)
  • Restaurateur of the Year Award (2019)

Professional organization memberships

  • President of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs gastronomic order
  • Member of the Hungarian Restaurant Association
  • Member of the Curatorium at Budapest University of Economics

• Board member of the National Association of Tourism and Hospitality Employers

        Pro Gasztronomia award