Weißenbrunn: Gasthof Alex

Tension has been high over the last few days at Gasthof Alex in Gössersdorf and now the joy is immense: a few hours ago, the renowned Michelin restaurant guide rained stars down on Germany's top gastronomy. And Domenik Alex, owner and head chef of Gasthof Alex, was once again honoured with one of the coveted stars.

"For my partner Madlen Häckel and me, and for our entire team, the star means great joy. It is a huge acknowledgement and appreciation of the work we do every day, which we do with a lot of passion, dedication and an unconditional desire to achieve the highest quality," says the 32-year-old Michelin-starred chef. Domenik Alex was already crowned a star chef last year - just over a year and a half after opening his catering business in Gössersdorf near Weissenbrunn. "Being awarded the star for the first time is one thing - defending this prestigious award is another," emphasises Alex. "You have to earn the star anew every day. It is a promise to our guests that we will maintain the same high standard - or perhaps even continuously improve a little. The Michelin star is an incentive and motivation to continue on this path."

Domenik Alex has achieved a top position in the German gourmet scene with his concept of "Franconian haute cuisine". The recipe for success: "A balance between living tradition and creative zeitgeist. The cooking is full of flavour, rich in finesse and seasonal. The dishes are modern and creatively inspired, reduced to the essentials and clearly structured. Incidentally, some of the products are home-grown" - this is how the Michelin Guide rated it.

In 2021, Domenik Alex took over his parents' inn in Gössersdorf. Prior to that, he had spent ten years gaining experience in highly decorated Michelin-starred restaurants such as "Le Noir" in Saarbrücken, the gourmet Schlosshotel Friedrichsruhe in Zweiflingen and "Victor's Fine Dining" in Schloss Berg in Saarland. Back in his native northern Bavaria, he and his partner, hotel manager Madlen Häckel, have fulfilled their dream of owning their own restaurant. The dedicated restaurateur couple completely remodelled the inn, which has been in the family since 1886, according to their own ideas. Now, rustic Franconian cosiness meets clear lines and tasteful reduction to the essentials. This applies to the food on the plate as well as the ambience. From Wednesday to Saturday, Domenik Alex serves his six-course menu: a successful symbiosis of traditional dishes in a new, creative style. The "potato with white cheese" is a typical dish on the menu at "Alex" that epitomises the culinary concept: a cuisine that does not forget its Upper Franconian roots, but which the chef interprets in a pure and modern way.

In addition to Alexander Hermann's "Aura" in Wirsberg, which has two stars, Gasthof Alex is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Upper Franconia.

The Michelin star is an award given for outstanding cuisine. It is based on five universal criteria: the best product quality, the chef's expertise, the originality of the dishes and consistency both over time and across the entire menu.