Six chefs want to reach the final of "Chef Balfegó"

MUNICH. On 14 October, six top German chefs will compete in the national preliminary round of the renowned "Chef Balfegó" competition at the "EssZimmer by Käfer" restaurant in Munich's Olympiapark. This is one of the most important culinary competitions in Europe. The finalists have to create a dish using Balfegó bluefin tuna and prove themselves in front of a high-calibre jury. The winner will represent Germany in the international final in Madrid against Spain, Italy and Portugal. On 14 October from 7 pm, guests from the world of gastronomy are invited to the Kaitai show, a festive awards ceremony and an exclusive dinner.

Chef Balfegó is one of the most prestigious culinary competitions in Europe, focussing on the high-quality Balfegó bluefin tuna. The aim is to recognise the creative and artisanal skills of chefs as they create exceptional dishes with this unique product. Since its premiere in Spain in 2017, Chef Balfegó has become a highlight of international gastronomy. The competition, which was originally only held in Spain, now involves four European countries. This year, another will be added, which will be announced shortly. Top international chefs will be competing to win over the most demanding juries in Europe.

Germany is taking part in the competition for the third time and six of the best German chefs have qualified for the national preliminary round:

• Marvin Böhm, Aqua***, Wolfsburg, (sous chef)
• Maximilian Hühnergarth, Barra, Berlin, (sous chef)
• Julio Pizarro, Pizarro Fine Dining, Groß-Gerau, (head chef)
• Josef Weig, Storstad*, Regensburg, (head chef)
• Jay Lee, Junsui, Meerbusch, (head chef)
• Sascha Kurgan, Skykitchen*, Berlin, (head chef)

On 14 October, the finalists in Munich will face a true master test: they will have to create an extraordinary dish in just one hour - with the exquisite Balfegó bluefin tuna as the star of the plate. Every second counts as the top chefs unleash their culinary creativity while demonstrating technical precision. In the end, their dishes will be put to the test in front of some of the most renowned luminaries of top German gastronomy. The jury members are:

• Tohru Nakamura (Tohru in der Schreiberei**, Munich): The two-time Michelin-starred chef is known for his unique fusion of Japanese and European cuisine.
• The Duc Ngo (Le Duc, Berlin): A pioneer of modern Asian cuisine in Germany, he skilfully combines traditional and contemporary flavours in his restaurants and is one of the most successful multi-restaurateurs in Germany.
• Christian Sturm-Willms (Yunico*, Bonn): The "Chef of the Year 2013" impresses with his creative Japanese fusion cuisine and precision in detail.

This jury stands for excellence, creativity and the highest culinary standards. International presence and world-class prizes The winner of the German preliminary round will represent Germany at the international final of "Chef Balfegó", which will take place on 28 October 2024 at the renowned Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Madrid. Here, the winner will have to compete against the national representatives from Spain, Italy and Portugal to win the title of "Chef Balfegó 2024". The winner will not only win fame and honour, but also prizes worth €20,000, including an exclusive trip to Japan and high-quality Japanese fish knives.

An exceptional event for trade visitors. From 7 p.m. on 14 October, the well-known two-star restaurant "EssZimmer by Käfer" in Munich will open its doors to trade visitors from the catering industry. Guests can look forward to a breathtaking Balfegó Kaitai show, in which a bluefin tuna will be carved live by a master cutter. The festive awards ceremony and the subsequent cocktail dinner with culinary highlights centred around the Balfegó tuna will round off the evening.