Robert Makłowicz

Robert Witold Makłowicz(Polish pronunciation:[ˈrɔbɛrtmaˈkwɔvit͡ʂ]; born 12 August 1963) is a Polishfood critic,journalist,historianandtelevision personality, notable as a promoter of thePolish cuisineandslow food.He is best known for his series of culinary TV programsMakłowicz w podróży(Makłowicz on the Road).
He was born in 1963 inKrakówto sailor father Włodzimierz and mother Beata (néePreiss). On his father's side, he is mainly of Ukrainian origin, except for his great-grandmother, who was Armenian with Ukrainian self-identification.Initially, the surname was Mokłowicz (Ukrainian:Моклович), including that of Robert's grandfather — Izydor,but upon Polonisation some members of the family changed it to Makłowicz.On his mother's side he also has Polish, Hungarian and Austrian ancestry.
He became fascinated withEuropean cuisineduring his studies at the Faculty of History of theJagiellonian University. After the end of communism in Poland, in 1993, as a joke, he had shown one of his friends a recipe forwiener schnitzelhe prepared himself. He was instantly offered the job of a culinary critic of the Kraków variation of theGazeta Wyborczadaily. Soon afterwards his essays and descriptions of various restaurants in Kraków became so popular that he was moved to the all-national weekly magazine published byGazeta Wyborcza. He also started cooperation with various other newspapers, includingPrzekrój,Wprost(2002–2005) andNewsweek Polska(since 2005).
In 1996 he was also offered a short programme in the morning block of thepublic TV. Although far fromprime time, the programme gained much popularity and, since August 1998, Makłowicz has been preparing a weekly show namedRobert Makłowicz's Culinary Travels.Each show is prepared in a different region of the world and presents the local cuisine as prepared by Makłowicz himself or by local people, not necessarily professional chefs. In 2016, he appeared onBake-Off. Ale Ciacho!culinary show broadcast onTVP2channel.
In 2017TVPended cooperation with Makłowicz.His showMakłowicz on the Roadis shown on the PolishFood Network.
In 2020 Makłowicz created his own channel onYouTube. Between 2020–2021, he hosted a music programme entitled "Frompunk rocktoBartók" on internet radio station Newonce.radio.In March 2024, he was appointed by then-mayor of KrakówJacek Majchrowskias a member of the Council of theHistorical Museum of Kraków.
He has a younger sister named Dominika. In 1991, he married Agnieszka Pogoda with whom he has two sons: Mikołaj (born 1992) and Ferdynand (born 1996). Makłowicz isArmenian Catholic.
His grandfather's brother wasVolodymyr Moklovych[uk], a former combat officer of the Ukrainian nationalistUVODistrict Command inStanisławówand a member of theOUNin Belgium.After the war Robert's father used to live with him until his departure to Poland.
His characteristic voice, quotes and videos posted on the internet have become the inspiration for numerousinternet memesand parodies in Poland.Makłowicz has responded positively to the widespread attention he has received in Polishpopular culture.
In 2022, a Kraków researcher discovered two new species oftardigradeand named one of themMesobiotus maklowicziin honour of the TV chef.
In 2024, Kraków's Public Transport Authority informed that Makłowicz's voice would be used in the public transportation service in the city. His voice recordings will announce bus and tram stops as well as make other important announcements to the passengers. Makłowicz offered his voice services for free.
Makłowicz also published a number of books on culinary traditions of his homeland,Galicia. The first of the series, theC.K. Kuchnia(K.u.K.Cuisine) became a nationwide best-seller. Other Robert Makłowicz's books: