Six contestants qualified for the final in three thrilling preliminary rounds on 15 and 16 March. On Monday afternoon, they faced off in Hall B6, the venue for Kitchen Technology & Equipment at INTERNORGA, for the showdown. It was all about high pressure, thrills and absolute concentration, as every move counted.
The high-calibre jury, chaired by top chef Johann Lafer and including Cornelia Poletto (Restaurant Cornelia Poletto), Marco Müller (Rutz), Thomas Martin (Jacobs Restaurant), Christoph Rüffer (Restaurant Haerlin), Christoph Kunz (KOMU) and Tim Bälzer (Restaurant Bullerei), were impressed by the high standard of the contestants. ‘The NEXT CHEF AWARD demonstrates just how much creativity, passion and courage there is in the up-and-coming generation of chefs. It is precisely these talents that bring fresh impetus to the sector and will shape the restaurant industry of tomorrow,’ said Johann Lafer in summary.
The path to the title
Things really got underway in the final on 16 March. From the very first slice to the final tasting, precision, intuition and technical skill were key. The task: to recreate Salmon fillet with pistachio‑herb crust, Letchó vegetables, arancini filled with pesto, and beurre blanc with pearl onions by Johann Lafer as accurately as possible and entirely without a recipe. Katharina Aichhorn impressed with a particularly successful execution of the dish and secured the victory. That means they not only receive the title of NEXT CHEF 2026, but also the top prize. First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Dr Peter Tschentscher, also attended the event to witness the gripping final, praised the outstanding achievements of the finalists, and congratulated the winner.
Katharina Aichhorn: ‘Cooking in front of a jury that has inspired me for years and competing against so many talented chefs at this level was incredibly motivating. I’m really looking forward to publishing my own cookbook and developing a menu for Lufthansa Business Class.’ The runners-up also made a strong impression and delivered impressive performances. Arez Raza from Finsterwirt in Brixen (Italien) receives a high-tech kitchen appliance from Pacojet, which opens up new possibilities in haute cuisine. Sean Paul Blau from The Ritz-Carlton in Wolfsburg won a high-quality knife set from KAI, which stands for quality and true culinary artisanship.
For ten years now, the NEXT CHEF AWARD at INTERNORGA has been a real springboard for young culinary talent. The competition puts the next generation of chefs in the spotlight, offering them a stage to showcase their skills, establish valuable contacts and lay the foundations for their future careers.
Pressmaterial for download: https://hmc.canto.de/b/JLM6A
