Facil headship on teamwork and creativity

Published at: 07/23/2026
Berlin

The people behind the success: an anniversary podcast with Executive Chef Michael Kempf and Head Chef Joachim Gerner

BERLIN. The story of The Mandala hotel began when Potsdamer Platz was still a derelict no-man’s-land. Shortly afterwards, 25 years ago, an extraordinary restaurant opened on the fifth floor. Since its opening on 2 July 2001, FACIL has developed into one of Germany’s most renowned culinary destinations. Executive Chef Michael Kempf, Head Chef Joachim Gerner, Head Pastry Chef Thomas Yoshida, Restaurant Manager Manuel E. Finster and Sommelier Felix Voges have all been shaping the restaurant, some of them from the very beginning. In the anniversary podcast “25 Years of FACIL – 2 Stars and a Team” hosted by radio presenter Reiner Veit, they and other team members share personal stories that offer fascinating insights into the history of this multi-award-winning restaurant.

The six-part podcast series premiered on 24 June 2026 and is now released every two weeks on all major podcast platforms as well as on the FACIL website. Following the entertaining opening episode with managing director Lutz Hesse and Christian Andresen on the early days of FACIL, the episode featuring head of kitchen Michael Kempf and head chef Joachim Gerner on teamwork, creativity and the day-to-day life of a Michelin-starred kitchen – far removed from common clichés – has been available since 8 July. They speak openly about their obsessions, mistakes and creative freedom, and explain why they have remained committed to the restaurant for decades.

In the episode available since 22 July, Head Pâtissier Thomas Yoshida talks about his career and why nature serves as the inspiration for his multi-award-winning desserts. Together with Reiner Veit, he looks back over the last 25 years of dessert culture and reveals that his legendary ‘Wolke’ is making a comeback. The fourth episode, on 5 August, returns to Lutz Hesse and Christian Andresen. In a second round of discussions, the two managing directors look back on unusual research trips and the implementation of new approaches in the restaurant industry.

On 19 August, sommeliers Felix Voges and Maximilian Schmidt will discuss their different career paths, the development of the wine cellar, the future of non-alcoholic alternatives and how team spirit is put into practice at FACIL. The series concludes on 2 September with restaurant manager Manuel Finster, who explains why he swapped banking for the restaurant trade, how he reads people at the table, and why attention to detail is essential for genuine hospitality.

The host of the podcast “25 Years of FACIL – 2 Stars and a Team”, Reiner Veit, has been following the FACIL restaurant as a journalist and guest for many years.

With empathy and curiosity, he draws out insider insights from his interviewees, revealing what teamwork means at FACIL and how the restaurant consistently delivers high quality through consistency and innovation.

An overview of all release dates: