This was the 2024 Chef Apprentice Contest of the Selection of German Luxury Hotels
As soon as the carnival was over, things got exciting again in the kitchen of the Hanse Stube at the Excelsior Hotel Ernst in Cologne. The renowned Chef Apprentice Contest of the Selection of German Luxury Hotels entered its ninth round and offered six talented young chefs the opportunity to put their skills to the test.
The jury, consisting of top chef Christian Rach, Dennis Melzer, Nils Henkel and author Carsten Henn, judged the participants' culinary creations. But before the competition began, there was an exciting highlight on the program: together with their chefs from the selection hotels, the apprentice chefs were allowed to visit the food wholesaler Rungis Express. Here they gained valuable insights into the fine art of product selection and processing.
Then things got serious: back in the kitchen of the Excelsior Hotel Ernst, the young talents had to concentrate fully at the stove. The tension was palpable as they conjured up their menus. In addition to the pressure from the judges, the general managers of the luxury hotels also attentively assessed the young chefs' performances. But it was precisely this challenge that made the day unforgettable for everyone involved.
Participating hotels:
- Excelsior Hotel Ernst, Cologne
- Breidenbacher Hof, Düsseldorf
- Grand Hotel Heiligendamm
- Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Hamburg
- Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, Baden-Baden
- Mandarin Oriental, Munich
With a great deal of talent, creativity and passion, the trainees put impressive menus on the plates. The competition not only offered them the chance to prove themselves in the world of fine dining, but also to gain valuable experience and make contacts for the future.
An inspiring day full of culinary highlights that once again showed that the future of top gastronomy is promising!