On April 13th Germany’s gastronomy scene turned its attention to Frankfurt where the Bailliage’s 2026 National Final of the Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition was held to discover which young chef would represent Germany at the next International Final.

Eight promising young chefs from across the country competed against each other to demonstrate their skills. This prestigious competition is considered an important platform for promoting young culinary talent. Its aim is to preserve the high art of gastronomy and to inspire the next generation of top chefs.

As every year, the eight young chefs were thoroughly tested in the training kitchen of the IB Hotel in Frankfurt. They faced a demanding challenge: using a pre-defined basket of ingredients, they had 3½ hours to create and prepare a three-course menu for four people. Judging criteria included not only taste and presentation, but also organisation, workflow and technical precision.

Two distinguished juries - “Kitchen” and “Tasting” - carried out the evaluation.

Tasting Jury
- Hans-Stefan Steinheuer - Conseiller Culinaire 2 Michelin stars (Steinheuers Restaurant)
- Wolfgang Becker - Officier Maître Rôtisseur (Becker’s Hotel, Trier)
- Stefan Neugebauer - Maître Rôtisseur, 1 Michelin star (Deidesheimer Hof, Deidesheim)
- Daniel Schöfisch - Executive Chef (Wellnesshotel Seezeitlodge Hotel & Spa, Nohfelden)
- Manfred Birkenfeld - Vice Chancelier-Argentier of Nordrhein (Restaurant Grande Étoile, Düsseldorf)
- Frank Widmann - IKA Jury President

Kitchen Jury
- Thilo Hanke - Vice Conseiller Culinaire of Hessen (Braustübl’, Darmstadt)
- Axel Horn - Officier Maître Rôtisseur (Burg Gleiberg, Wettenberg)
- Adrian Kaiser - Maître Rôtisseur (Sheraton Frankfurt Airport)

Following the competition, a festive programme took place in Frankfurt. Highlights were the official awards ceremony and subsequent induction into the Chaîne to honour and recognise these eight outstanding young chefs. The 1-2-3 were announced as follows:

Winner: Abdel Karim Berajkli - Hotel Seezeitlodge, Nohfelden
Runner-up: Kilian Passmann - La Cuisine Rademacher, Cologne
Third place: Katharina Aichhorn - Brenners Park Hotel, Baden-Baden

Chef Abdel Karim Berajkli will therefore represent the National Bailliage of Germany at the International Final of the Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition which will take place in 2027. We already wish him every success and a wonderful experience filled with new opportunities.

Finally, a big thank you to our national cooperation partners and to the Chaîne-Stiftung Deutschland, who once again supported this event with outstanding prizes.

Vive la Chaîne!

Karin Deißner
Chargée de Presse

Photos: Alexandra Kapherr