I’m always impressed by the passion of everyone who enters the Next Chef Award contest. In my opinion, this is the best competition for up-and-coming chefs in Germany.

Johann Lafer, celebrity chef

Next Chef Award honors young talents

Germany is searching for the next celebrity chef: talented young chefs compete for the Next Chef Award in an exciting contest.  In order to be considered, you must have completed your professional training as a chef and be under the age of 26. 18 applicants will compete in the first round at the INTERNORGA 2023 in front of a live audience: four ingredients, 60 minutes, one main dish. That’s what the challenge is all about. 

Six people who succeed in the first round will be part of the great finale on the 14 March. On that day, they will be challenged to cook a dish created by celebrity chef Johann Lafer, without the recipe. This requires a lot of expertise and an excellent sense of taste. Participating has its perks: the winner will not only receive the title “Next Chef 2023”, but is also given the chance to publish his or her own cookbook. So, put your cooking spoon away for a moment, sit down at your computer and apply now. (Application available in German only)

 

The Next Chef Award will take place at the INTERNORGA 2023, 12. – 13.03.2023.
  • Challenge 1: Sunday, 12.03, 11.00 - 13:30. 6 participants, the two winners qualify for the final on Monday.

  • Challenge 2: Sunday, 12.03, 15:00 - 17:30. 6 participants, the two winners qualify for the final on Monday

  • Challenge 3: Monday, 13.03, 11:00 - 13:30. 6 participants, the two winners qualify for the finale

  • Final: Monday, 13.03., the 6 winners of the challenges compete against each other

INTERNORGA Partner of the industry

Together with TV chef Johann Lafer, INTERNORGA is particularly committed to promoting young talent in the catering industry. The competition, which is specifically aimed at promoting the cookery profession, was launched in 2016 and has enjoyed great popularity ever since. In recent years, 72 chefs have competed against each other and cooked live at INTERNORGA. The Next Chef Award has already helped several participants, including Anne Brandes (winner 2023), Kevin Gedike (winner 2019), Marianus von Hörsten (winner 2018), Maximilian Schultz (winner 2017) and Jonas Straube (winner 2016), to boost their careers. With this innovative competition for young talent, INTERNORGA draws attention to the attractiveness of the culinary profession and shows the entire industry the potential that lies in young cooking talent and the promotion of young talent.

In 2024, six chefs will once again compete against each other in the preliminary rounds on Sunday 10 and 11 March in the East Upper Floor Entrance. The best two from the preliminary rounds will ultimately make it to the final and will be allowed to cook a dish in the grand final on 11 March at 3 pm - without a recipe.

The challenges will be judged by a high-calibre jury consisting of Christoph Rüffer from Restaurant Haerlin in the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Hamburg, Thomas Martin, head chef at Restaurant Jacobs in Hamburg, two-time star chef Peter Maria Schnurr from Leipzig, Next Chef Award winner 2023 Anne Brandes, Rupert Kien (Seachefs cruise Worldwide), Markus Hörner, head chef at Käfer Partyservice and head chef, and Andre Wolff (Rungis).

Great thanks to the sponsors of the Next Chef Award