Kobarid (Slovenia) (AFP) – Propelled into the limelight by an exceptional chef, Slovenian cuisine has risen to the top of world gastronomy in the space of a few years. The Michelin guide now recommends 58 restaurants in the small Alpine country of two million people, with their chefs creating avant-garde dishes from an abundance of fresh and seasonal produce on their doorstep. Leading the way is star chef Ana Ros, 50, and her Hisa Franko restaurant in the verdant Soca Valley. “As a painter sees colours… the chef sees flavours,” Ros tells AFP.