Keep your eye on Brazilian chef Alex Atala. Ever since his restaurant D.O.M. ranked fourth in the world's 50 best restaurants list, we knew he was a force to be reckoned with. It seems the world has finally taken notice.

Just last week Atala was named the world's best chef by the Wall Street Journal, a prestigious title that has many heads pondering if the South American will take on many other important awards this year.

Back in 2006, D.O.M. ranked 50th on the list but it only took Atala six years to rise to the top five, a spectacular feat for any chef.

Known for his use of Amazonian ingredients, Atala spoke to FDL about his passion for indigenous ingredients. One of his favorite ingredients is priprioca, a fragrant root from the Amazon which he uses in this special recipe he shared with our readers.

Aside from his critically-acclaimed D.O.M., which has two Michelin stars, Atala recently joined forces with Brazilian night club owner Fecundo Guerra to open a bar in a historic district in Sao Paolo later this year.

An active participant in worldwide culinary events, Atala will be a guest speaker at Redzepi's MAD Symposiium 2013. Clearly, his star is on the rise.

WATCH: Atala Talks 'New Brazilian Citizenship'