Shortlist of the Berlin Master Chefs 2024

BERLIN They stand for gastronomic diversity and culinary Berlin: the "Berlin Master Chefs". An independent, twelve-member jury consisting of food journalists and connoisseurs has now nominated the five candidates in each of the following categories: "Berlin Master Chef 2024", "Rising Star of the Year 2024", "Berlin Host 2024", "Berlin Scene Restaurant 2024", "Berlin Neighbourhood Champion 2024", "Berlin Bar Culture 2024". The seventh category, "Gastronomic Innovator", will not be announced until the awards ceremony.

Dr Stefan Franzke, Managing Director of Partner für Berlin: "Berlin's gastronomy has always been characterised by being innovative, dynamic and flexible. Food trends and impulses from society are taken up and implemented. With the Berlin Master Chefs, we recognise the diversity and quality that is reflected in this year's nominations. In addition, our restaurant culture should not be underestimated as an economic factor - this is what makes the city so liveable and lovable. The restaurant scene is an integral part of creative Berlin."

The jury selected five nominees for each category from over 200 candidates and restaurants proposed by the jury.

Berlin Master Chef 2024:

• Alan Micks & Andreas Rieger, Michelberger Restaurant
• Max Strohe, Tulus Lotrek
• Nicholas Hahn, Cookies Cream
• Nikodemus Berger, Bonvivant Cocktail Bistro
• Sarah Hallmann & Rosa Beutelspacher, Hallmann & Klee

Rising star of the year 2024:

• Francesco Contiero, Irma la Douce
• Karl-Louis Kömmler, Loumi
• Phillip Steixner & Samuel Haas, Dae Mon
• Ronny Marx, the wine lobbyist
• Timur Yilmaz, Oukan

Berlin Host 2024:

• Mical Rosenblat (host), Loumi
• Sahar and Forough Sodoudi (hosts & chefs), Dr & Dr
• Sascha Hammer (restaurant manager & sommelier), Irma la Douce
• Serhat Aktas (host & sommelier), the wine lobbyist
• Sharin Polte (Sommelière), Skykitchen

Berlin's trendy restaurant 2024:

• Berta
• Berta
• Château Royal Berlin
• Verōnika
• Water

Berlin neighbourhood champion 2024:

• Canal Berlin, Mitte
• Domäne Dahlem, Steglitz
• Marheineke Markthalle (Knippenbergs - Lust auf Käse/ Les Épicuriens/ Die kleene Aubergine/ Piechas BioBuffet), Kreuzberg
• Snow Owl Berlin, Wedding
• Thaipark Markt Berlin, Wilmersdorf

Berlin bar culture 2024:

• Bar Clara
• Bar Neiro
• Birdsnest Bar & Restaurant
• Himitsu Speakeasy Bar
• Wax On

The richness of Berlin's gastronomic scene is reflected in this shortlist. This includes the nominations for master chefs who cook only or predominantly vegetarian food, for kitchens and bars with an international reputation or the unpretentious Berlin style, for newcomers as up-and-comers who are courageous, committed and talented in breaking new ground, for neighbourhood masters who develop a pulling power where they are, and for hosts who act competently with heart and passion. All in all, it can be said that the 30 nominees reflect the diversity of the city.

Jury chairwoman Tina Hüttl: "We juggled over 200 suggestions in this year's jury round, discussed them loudly and sometimes shifted categories. Because one thing is certain: Berlin's gastronomy is in a constant state of flux, and those who are among the best also excel in other categories. After all, excellent cuisine usually also includes excellent hosts, a lively scene or an outstanding bar culture.

It's not easy to find the distillate of the five best in each category! But it turns out that you can be a complete newcomer in this city and impress straight away, like Timur Yilmaz at Oukan or the two talented Austrian chefs at Dae Mon, or you can develop from up-and-comers to potential master chefs in just one year, like Sarah Hallmann and Rosa Beutelsbacher. It goes without saying that diversity is also part of the culinary DNA in this city: almost all parts of the world, styles and mixtures thereof are represented. From Thai food in the park and a Japanese-inspired speak-easy bar to enchanting Persian hostesses and the revitalised art of old Berlin brewing in the Schneeeule."

Dr Stefan Elfenbein, chairman of the jury: "A master brewer who finds new jobs for almost lost original Berlin yeasts, the best eclairs in the city, a vegan gourmet menu with a classic base and disco balls, Iranian twin sisters with doctorates who present the pleasurable side of their homeland. The dice have been cast and the jury has nominated the 30 best in six categories. A total of around 200 candidates were put forward by the jury members. It seems that Berlin's true hosts are vehemently setting a culinary example for diversity, friendship, empathy and enjoyable togetherness. Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg and Neukölln continue to be the main think tanks for exciting new ideas. The former Tacheles art centre, which has been spectacularly resurrected in a new form, provides exciting impulses in Mitte, while the Domäne Dahlem has been revitalised in culinary terms. However, Wilmersdorf's Thai market in Preußenpark, which is celebrated worldwide in travel guides, has been banned from the meadow, but the market association is not giving up - for the neighbourhood, the people and Berlin! Here's to our vibrant Berlin!"

The expert jury consists of the following members:

• Dr Stefan Elfenbein, chairman of the jury, correspondent for the magazine "Der Feinschmecker"
• Tina Hüttl, Chairwoman of the jury, Berliner Zeitung
• Felix Denk, editor of the Tagesspiegel
• Prof. Dr Dieter Großklaus, "Chaîne des Rôtisseurs" (Honorary President)
• Lorraine Haist, freelance journalist and author for various newspapers and magazines
• Stefanie Hofeditz, freelance journalist, B.Z.
• Alexandra Laubrinus, Managing Director of Berlin Food Week
• Clemens Niedenthal, editor of Tip & head of the food department
• Nikolas Rechenberg, Gourmetwelten
• Annika Schönstädt, freelance author for Tagesspiegel, Zeit online, Feinschmecker
• Dr Erwin Seitz, freelance journalist, author and food critic
• Jan-Peter Wulf, specialised journalist and founder of nomyblog

The results of the Berlin Master Chefs 2024 competition will be announced at a gala dinner in November.