Robert Makłowicz

{{Infobox person

| name = Robert Makłowicz

| image = Robert Makłowicz 2015.jpg

| caption = Makłowicz in 2015

| birth_name = Robert Witold Makłowicz

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|08|12}}

| birth_place = Kraków, Poland

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality =

| alma_mater = Jagiellonian University

| other_names =

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Journalist
historian
writer
food critic
television personality

}}

| years_active = 1993–present

| employer = Food Network

| television = Makłowicz w podróży

| children = 2

| known_for =

| notable_works =

| website = {{URL|maklowicz.pl}}

| awards = {{plainlist|

Cross of Merit (Poland)
Cross of Merit (Hungary)
Decoration of Merit in Gold (Austria)

}}

Robert Witold Makłowicz ({{IPA|pl|ˈrɔbɛrt maˈkwɔvit͡ʂ}}; born 12 August 1963) is a Polish food critic, journalist, historian and television personality, notable as a promoter of the Polish cuisine and slow food.{{cite web |url=https://ludzie.wprost.pl/sylwetka/4100253/Robert-Maklowicz.html |title=Robert Makłowicz - Sylwetka |website=Ludzie Wprost |publisher=Wprost |language=pl |access-date=March 30, 2021}} He is best known for his series of culinary TV programs Makłowicz w podróży (Makłowicz on the Road).

Life and career

He was born in 1963 in Kraków to sailor father Włodzimierz and mother Beata (née Preiss). On his father's side, he is mainly of Ukrainian origin, except for his great-grandmother, who was Armenian with Ukrainian self-identification.[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/8191/file.pdf Говорить Підгір'я: розповідь Володимира Мокловича, колишнього бойового референта Окружної команди УВО в Станиславові] Initially, the surname was Mokłowicz ({{langx|uk|Моклович}}), including that of Robert's grandfather — Izydor,[https://art.hn.cz/c1-62654020-robert-maklowicz-cafe-museum Robert Makłowicz: Café Museum] but upon Polonisation some members of the family changed it to Makłowicz.{{cite web |access-date=2014-08-24 |archive-date=2014-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826191759/http://media.wp.pl/kat,1022939,page,3,title,Splatane-korzenie,wid,9906496,wiadomosc.html?ticaid=113555&_ticrsn=3 |author=Magda Huzarska-Szumiec |date=29 April 2008 |title=Splątanie korzenie: Robert Makłowicz |url=http://media.wp.pl/kat,1022939,page,3,title,Splatane-korzenie,wid,9906496,wiadomosc.html?ticaid=113522}} On his mother's side he also has Polish, Hungarian and Austrian ancestry.

He became fascinated with European cuisine during his studies at the Faculty of History of the Jagiellonian University. After the end of communism in Poland, in 1993, as a joke, he had shown one of his friends a recipe for wiener schnitzel he prepared himself. He was instantly offered the job of a culinary critic of the Kraków variation of the Gazeta Wyborcza daily. 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 by Gazeta Wyborcza. He also started cooperation with various other newspapers, including Przekrój, Wprost (2002–2005) and Newsweek Polska (since 2005).

In 1996 he was also offered a short programme in the morning block of the public TV. Although far from prime time, the programme gained much popularity and, since August 1998, Makłowicz has been preparing a weekly show named Robert Makłowicz's Culinary Travels.{{Cite web |url=https://wspolczesna.pl/robert-maklowicz-u-tatarow-mistrz-gotowal-na-podlasiu-jeden-z-odcinkow-nakrecil-w-kruszynianach-zdjecia-wideo/ar/c17-15576859 |language=pl |title=Robert Makłowicz u Tatarów. Mistrz gotował na Podlasiu. Jeden z odcinków nakręcił w Kruszynianach (ZDJĘCIA, WIDEO) |website=wspolczesna.pl |author=Olga Goździewska-Marszałek |date=25 April 2021 |access-date=25 July 2024}} 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 on Bake-Off. Ale Ciacho! culinary show broadcast on TVP2 channel.{{Cite web|url= https://satkurier.pl/news/156542/bake-off-ale-ciacho-2-w-tvp2-i-tvp-rozrywka.html |language=pl |title="Bake Off - Ale ciacho!" 2 w TVP2 i TVP Rozrywka |access-date=26 September 2022}}

In 2017 TVP ended cooperation with Makłowicz.{{Cite web |url=https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,21514242,tvp-odwoluje-program-maklowicza-po-20-latach-to-odwet-za-krytyke.html |language=pl |title=TVP odwołuje program Makłowicza po 20 latach. To odwet za krytykę |website=wyborcza.pl |author=Edyta Bryła |date=17 March 2017 |access-date=25 July 2024}} His show Makłowicz on the Road is shown on the Polish Food Network.

In 2020 Makłowicz created his own channel on YouTube. Between 2020–2021, he hosted a music programme entitled "From punk rock to Bartók" on internet radio station Newonce.radio.{{Cite web |url=https://newonce.net/podcast/od-punk-rocka-do-bartoka |language=pl |title=Od Punk Rocka Do Bartóka |website=newonce.net |access-date=25 July 2024}} In March 2024, he was appointed by then-mayor of Kraków Jacek Majchrowski as a member of the Council of the Historical Museum of Kraków.{{Cite web |url=https://lovekrakow.pl/aktualnosci/robert-maklowicz-z-nominacja-od-jacka-majchrowskiego_55735.html |language=pl |title=Robert Makłowicz z nominacją od Jacka Majchrowskiego |website=lovekrakow.pl |date=19 March 2024 |access-date=25 July 2024}}

Personal life

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 is Armenian Catholic.

His grandfather's brother was {{ill|Volodymyr Moklovych|uk|Володимир Моклович}}, a former combat officer of the Ukrainian nationalist UVO District Command in Stanisławów and a member of the OUN in Belgium. After the war Robert's father used to live with him until his departure to Poland.

In popular culture

His characteristic voice, quotes and videos posted on the internet have become the inspiration for numerous internet memes and parodies in Poland.{{Cite web |url=https://dziendobry.tvn.pl/gwiazdy/robert-maklowicz-w-dzien-dobry-tvn-o-podbijaniu-internetu-i-memach-na-swoj-temat-da318679-ls5319828 |language=pl |title=Robert Makłowicz o podbijaniu Internetu i memach na swój temat. "Jestem tylko skromnym pasem transmisyjnym, który świat pokazuje" |website=dziendobry.tvn.pl |date=27 November 2020 |access-date=25 July 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://publicon.pl/insight/dlaczego-popkultura-pokochala-roberta-maklowicza/ |language=pl |title=Dlaczego popkultura pokochała Roberta Makłowicza? |website=publicon.pl |access-date=25 July 2024}} Makłowicz has responded positively to the widespread attention he has received in Polish popular culture.{{Cite web |url=https://magazyn.wp.pl/film/artykul/robert-maklowicz-odejscie-z-telewizji-to-bylo-prawdziwe-blogoslawienstwo |language=pl |title=Robert Makłowicz: odejście z telewizji to było prawdziwe błogosławieństwo |website=magazyn.wp.pl |author=Przemek Gulda |date=22 December 2020 |access-date=25 July 2024}}

In 2022, a Kraków researcher discovered two new species of tardigrade and named one of them Mesobiotus maklowiczi in honour of the TV chef.{{Cite web |url=https://scienceinpoland.pl/en/news/news%2C94879%2Ckrakow-researcher-discovers-two-new-species-tardigrades-and-names-one-after-tv-chef |title=Kraków researcher discovers two new species of tardigrades and names one after TV chef |website=scienceinpoland.pl |date=13 January 2023 |access-date=25 July 2024}}

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.{{Cite web |url=https://polanddaily24.com/robert-maklowicz-to-voice-krakows-public-transport-stops/news/43369 |title=Robert Makłowicz to Voice Krakow’s Public Transport Stops |website=polanddaily24.com |date=29 June 2024 |access-date=14 October 2024}}

Recognition

=Honours=

2004: Silver Cross of Merit (Poland){{Cite web |url=https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WMP20040560949 |language=pl |title=M.P. 2004 nr 56 poz. 949 |website=isap.sejm.gov.pl |access-date=25 July 2024}} 65px
2021: Hungarian Gold Cross of Merit (Hungary){{Cite web |url=https://polskieradio24.pl/artykul/2697679,dzien-swieta-narodowego-wegier-odznaczono-polakow-i-dzialaczy-polonijnych |language=pl |title=Dzień święta narodowego Węgier. Odznaczono Polaków i działaczy polonijnych |website=polskieradio.pl |date=15 March 2021 |access-date=25 July 2024}} 65px
2024: Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (Austria){{Cite web |url=https://www.bmeia.gv.at/oeb-warschau/aktuelles/detail/goldenes-verdienstzeichen-der-republik-oesterreich-fuer-robert-maklowicz |language=de |title=Goldenes Verdienstzeichen der Republik Österreich für Robert Makłowicz |website=bmeia.gv.at |date=22 March 2024 |access-date=25 July 2024}} 65px

=Awards=

2004: Wiktor Award
2004: Złoty Chmiel Award
2011: Silver Inkpot Literary Award for his book Cafe Museum{{Cite web |url=https://www.wprost.pl/zycie/235311/robert-maklowicz-nagrodzony-srebrnym-kalamarzem-2010.html |language=pl |title=Robert Makłowicz nagrodzony Srebrnym Kałamarzem 2010 |website=wprost.pl |date=11 March 2011 |access-date=25 July 2024}}

Books

File:02017 0005 Robert Makłowicz.jpg

Makłowicz also published a number of books on culinary traditions of his homeland, Galicia. The first of the series, the C.K. Kuchnia (K.u.K. Cuisine) became a nationwide best-seller. Other Robert Makłowicz's books:

Zjeść Kraków (Eating Cracow, 2001) with Stanisław Mancewicz
Dialogi języka z podniebieniem (Dialogues of a Tongue with a Palate, 2003) with Piotr Bikont
Czy wierzyć platynowym blondynkom? (Do You Believe Platinum Blondes?, 2004)
Kalendarz znaleziony w brytfannie (A Calendar Found in a Baking Tin, 2005)
Podróże kulinarne Roberta Makłowicza. Smak Węgier (Robert Makłowicz's Culinary Travels. The Taste of Hungary, 2006)
Stół z niepowyłamywanymi nogami (A Table without Broken legs'', 2007) with Piotr Bikont
Fuzja Smaków. Podróże kulinarne Roberta Makłowicza (The Fusion of Tastes. Robert Makłowicz's Culinary Travels, 2007)
Cafe Museum (2010)
Dalmacja. Książka kucharska (Dalmatia. The Cookery Book, 2016)

Filmography

2023: Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom (voice role){{cite web|url=https://primemovies.pl/2023/01/09/robert-maklowicz-asteriks-obeliks/|title=Robert Makłowicz gwiazdą nowego Asteriksa i Obeliksa. Kogo zagra?|date=9 January 2023 |publisher=PrimeMovies.pl|access-date=January 9, 2023}}