Rolling Pin.Convention Germany 2026 brings together international stars and the leading figures of the German catering industry at the Areal Böhler – Jamie Oliver receives the ‘Inspirational Chef of the Decade’ award, whilst Jan Hartwig tops the ‘100 Best Chefs Germany 2026’ list

(30 September 2026) – International celebrity chefs, Germany’s finest chefs and the leading figures in the catering industry gathered on 28 and 29 September at the Rolling Pin.Convention Germany 2026 in Düsseldorf. More than 100 speakers presented their ideas, experiences and visions for the future of the industry at the Areal Böhler in Düsseldorf. One of the highlights was the appearance by Jamie Oliver, who took to the stage at a trade congress in Germany for the first time and was honoured as ‘Inspirational Chef of the Decade’ at the Rolling Pin.Awards.

At the same time, the spotlight was on Germany’s top gastronomy: Jan Hartwig from Restaurant JAN in Munich was voted number one in the “100 Best Chefs Germany 2026” by hospitality industry professionals. Over the course of two days, the convention brought together international luminaries and the figures currently shaping the German gastronomy scene.

Jamie Oliver: Debut in Düsseldorf

With more than 55 million cookbooks sold, an international restaurant business and his long-standing commitment to better nutrition, Jamie Oliver is one of the world’s best-known figures in the gastronomy sector. At the Rolling Pin.Convention, he spoke under the title ‘Unfiltered: From Naked Chef to Global Empire – Fails, Lessons, Comebacks & What’s Next’, he spoke about his journey from a young chef to an international entrepreneur – covering successes as well as mistakes, setbacks and the question of what the gastronomy sector of the future needs. For Oliver, the appearance in Düsseldorf was also a first: it was his first time speaking at a trade conference in Germany.

Following his talk, the British chef, author and entrepreneur was presented with the ‘Inspirational Chef of the Decade’ award. With this honour, Rolling Pin recognises his lasting influence on culinary culture, the restaurant industry and the way millions of people worldwide think about food and cooking.

“Jamie Oliver has inspired people all over the world to enjoy good food and take an interest in cooking like hardly any other chef of his generation. At the same time, he has repeatedly raised issues that go far beyond the kitchen. With the ‘Inspirational Chef of the Decade’ award, we are therefore honouring not only his extraordinary career, but above all his influence on the catering industry and food culture in recent years. It was a great pleasure and honour for us to present Jamie with this award in person in Düsseldorf,” explains Jürgen Pichler, Founder & CEO of Rolling Pin.

The Oscars of the gastronomy world

A highlight of the event is the Rolling Pin.Awards, which, with over 10,000 votes, are described by Rolling Pin as the Oscars of the gastronomy world. What makes the Rolling Pin.Awards special is that only professionals working in the gastronomy sector can nominate and vote.

This makes these awards among the most coveted in the hospitality industry, as they are bestowed by colleagues and – unlike traditional gourmet guides – recognise not only craftsmanship but also innovative spirit and the role model effect on the
industry.

The Top Chefs are chefs who have been shaping the German restaurant scene for years with exceptional quality, passion and consistency. At the same time, the award recognises the talents of the next generation who are setting new standards through creativity, courage and innovation.

Together, they represent the full spectrum of Germany’s top-class cuisine – from established figures who have had a lasting impact on the industry to the promising rising stars who will shape its future. The following chefs were honoured as Top Chefs Germany 2026 at the Rolling Pin.Convention.

• Mathias Achatz, Buchner, Niederwinkling
• Henning Aldag, Bavarie by Käfer, Munich
• Domenik Alex, Gasthof Alex, Weißenbrunn
• Michael Ammon, Gasthaus Jakob, Perasdorf
• Joe Andrich, Atelier Sanssouci, Radebeul
• Arne Anker, Restaurant BRIKZ, Berlin
• Erik Arnecke, Philipp Soldan, Frankenberg (Eder)
• Bernd Bachofer, Bachofer, Waiblingen
• Sonja Baumann, NeoBiota, Cologne
• Wolfgang Becker, Becker’s, Trier
• Pierre Beckerling, SchwarzGold, Dortmund
• Caio Benati, Schattbuch, Amtzell
• Klaus & Wittek, Benedikt Buderath, Gourmet Restaurant Seestern, Ulm/Danube
• Fritz Benson, Theodor’s, Bonn
• Florian Berger, Gabelspiel, Munich
• Nikodemus Berger, Bonvivant, Berlin
• Franz Berlin, Berlins Krone, Bad Teinach-Zavelstein
• Stéphan Bernhard, Le Jardin de France at the Stahlbad, Baden-Baden
• Iris Bettinger, Reuter, Rheda-Wiedenbrück
• Marcus Blonkowski, Genuss-Atelier, Dresden
• Yann Bosshammer, Auerhahn, Schluchsee
• Stephan Brandl, Leos by Stephan Brandl, Bad Kötzting
• Herbert Brockel, Brockel Schlimbach, Nideggen
• Quirin Brundobler, Das Grace, Flensburg
• Nico Burkhardt, Gourmet Restaurant Nico Burkhardt, Schorndorf
• Jochim Busch, Rausch, Frankfurt (Main)
• Federico Campolattano, Eichhalde, Freiburg
• Aniello Casalino, Favorite, Mainz
• Daniele Corona, Schloss Filseck, Uhingen
• Reyad Danah, Shiraz, Wuppertal
• Paul Decker, Koer, Hamburg
• Fabian Denninger, Entenstuben, Nuremberg
• Frederik Desch, Laudensacks Gourmet Restaurant, Bad Kissingen
• Alexander Dinter, Restaurant 5, Stuttgart
• Gunter Ehinger, Diva, Scharbeutz
• Marcello Fabbri, The First, Blankenhain
• Stefan Fäth, Jellyfish by Stefan Fäth, Hamburg
• Franz Feckl, Landhaus Feckl, Ehningen
• Daniel Fehrenbacher, Adler, Lahr
• Moritz Feichtinger, Schwabenstube, Asperg
• Sabrina Fenzl, MIND by sabrina fenzl, Markt Indersdorf
• Zsolt Fodor, Solo DU, Bischofswiesen
• Marcel Förster, Agata’s, Düsseldorf
• Hendrik Friedrich, Weinstock, Volkach
• Viktoria Fuchs, Spielweg, Münstertal
• Hannes Fussel, Karner, Frasdorf
• Felix Gabel, KAI 3, Hörnum (Sylt)
• Mario Gamba, Acquarello, Munich
• Stephan Garkisch, Bieberbau, Berlin
• Mirko Gaul, taku, Cologne
• Johannes Gehrich, Hugos, Berlin
• Daniel Georgiev, Ratsstuben, Haltern
• Philippe Giar, Villa Merton at the Union International Club, Frankfurt (Main)
• Marcel Görke, Heimatjuwel, Hamburg
• Peter Grasmeier, ONTRA’S Gourmetstube, Regensburg
• Carmelo Greco, Carmelo Greco, Frankfurt (Main)
• Martin Grimmer, Keidenzeller Hof, Langenzenn
• Jason Grom, Die Burg, Donaueschingen
• Fabio Haebel, Haebel, Hamburg
• Hans Häge (Junior), HOCHZWEI, Langenau
• Cliff Hämmerle, Hämmerle’s Chef’s Table, Blieskastel
• Rainer-Maria Halbedel, Halbedel’s Gasthaus, Bonn
• Ralf Haug, freustil, Binz (Rügen)
• Thorsten Hauk, Mittermeier, Rothenburg
• David Hekele, Schlosspark Restaurant, Bertsdorf-Hörnitz
• Fritz Helfesrieder, Storchen, Bad Krozingen
• Thies Henkel, Tante Anna, Sprockhövel
• Andreas Hettinger, Délice, Stuttgart
• Andreas Hillejan, Das Marktrestaurant, Mittenwald
• Robin Hofmann, Kuno 1408, Würzburg
• Egor Hopp, Setzkasten, Düsseldorf
• Alexander Hoppe, Chefs Atelier, Essen
• Alexander Huber, Alexander Huber, Pleiskirchen
• Thomas Hübner, Alte Überfahrt, Werder
• Stefan Hummel, Die Gourmet Stube, Duggendorf
• Michael Huppert, Hupperts, Stuttgart
• Eike Iken, Petit Amour, Hamburg
• Eric Jadischke, Silberstreif, Südharz
• Christopher Jäger, SKYKITCHEN, Berlin
• Lukas Jakobi, Zwanzig23 by Lukas Jakobi, Düsseldorf
• Dominik Käppeler, Showroom, Munich
• Christoph Kaiser, Jacobi, Freiburg
• Constantin Kaiser, L’étable, Bad Hersfeld
• Joachim Kaiser, Meyers Keller Joachim Kaiser, Nördlingen
• Michael Kammermeier, Ente, Eltville
• Vadim Karasev, Veles, Nuremberg
• Sebastian Kauper, Kaupers im Kapellenhof, Selzen
• Marcel Kazda, garbo, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen
• Markus Kebschull, Seesteg, Norderney
• Johannes Kemper, BOK, Münster (Westphalia)
• Hendrik Ketter, Nose & Belly, Augsburg
• Jürgen Kettner, Kettner’s Kamota, Essen
• Vincent Klink, Wielandshöhe, Stuttgart
• Ralph Knebel, Erbprinz, Ettlingen
• Lasse Knickrehm, Ahlmanns, Kiel
• Jürgen Koch, Laurentius, Weikersheim
• Julia Komp, Sahila, Cologne
• Constantin Krauß, Kesselhaus, Osnabrück
• Maximilian Kreus, St. Benedikt, Aachen
• Florian Kucher, Kucher’s Gourmet, Darscheid
• Malte Kuhn, Maltes hidden kitchen, Baden-Baden
• Konstantin Kuntzsch, MiZAR Fine Dining, Würzburg
• Alexander Kunz, Kunz, Sankt Wendel
• Heiko Lacher, ANIMA, Tuttlingen
• Simon Lang, Sartory, Augsburg
• Marco Langer, Stephans-Stuben by Marco Langer, Neu-Ulm
• Björn Leist, BjoernsOx, Dermbach
• Kevin Leitner, Kaisersaal, Ravensburg
• Maximilian Lorenz, maximilian lorenz, Cologne
• Benjamin Maerz, Maerz, Bietigheim-Bissingen
• Dennis Maier, The Tourist Trap, Mannheim
• Joannis Malathounis, Malathounis, Kernen
• Thomas Martin, Jacobs Restaurant, Hamburg
• Valery Mathis, Erno’s Bistro, Frankfurt (Main)
• Stefan Meier, ZweiSinn, Nuremberg
• Thomas Merkle, Merkles Restaurant, Endingen
• Erik Metzger, Gasthof Krone, Waldenbuch
• Stephan Mießner, elements Restaurant, Dresden
• Benjamin Mitschele, Alte Liebe, Augsburg
• Maximilian Moser, Aubergine gourmet restaurant, Starnberg
• Nelson Müller, Schote, Bergisch Gladbach
• Paul Nash, Werners Restaurant, Gernsbach
• Toni Neumann, Villino, Lindau
• Alois Neuschmid, Haubentaucher, Rottach-Egern
• Sven-Niklas Nöthel, mod by Sven Nöthel, Duisburg
• Wahabi Nouri, Piment, Hamburg
• Michael Oettinger, Oettinger’s, Fellbach
• Alexander Oos, Wein- & Tafelhaus, Trittenheim
• Daniel Pape, Epicures, Aschau
• Markus Pape, Meisenheimer Hof, Meisenheim
• Vjekoslav Pavic, Die Brasserie, Pirmasens
• Jean Luc Petermann, Wullenwever, Lübeck
• Silvio Pfeufer, Matthias, Berlin
• Michael Philipp, Philipp, Sommerhausen
• Markus Philippi, Casala – the Restaurant, Meersburg
• Michael Quendler, Die Mühlenhelle, Gummersbach
• Marlon Rademacher, La Cuisine Rademacher, Cologne
• Robert Rädel, Oben Restaurant, Heidelberg
• Daniel Raub, Genießer Stube – Daniel Raub, Friedland
• Hans-Harald Reber, Rebers Pflug, Schwäbisch Hall
• Michael Simon Reis, Johanns, Waldkirchen
• Julius Reisch, Esszimmer, Schwendi
• André Rickert, Bidlabu, Frankfurt (Main)
• David Rink, OX, Darmstadt
• Valentin Rottner, Waidwerk, Nuremberg
• Harald Rüssel, Rüssels Landhaus, Naurath
• Andreas Saul, Bandol sur Mer, Berlin
• Oliver Schäfer, Le Temple, Neuhütten
• Andreas Schaffrath, La Bécasse, Aachen
• Erik Scheffler, NeoBiota, Cologne
• Matthias Scheiber, Sommerfeld, Frankfurt (Main)
• Jörg Scherle, Zur Weinsteige, Stuttgart
• Mike Schiller, Schiller’s Manufaktur, Koblenz
• Simon Schlachter, PAVO, Pfronten
• Michael Schlaipfer, Michael’s Leitenberg, Frasdorf
• Maximilian Schmidt, smith, Regensburg
• Daniel Schmidthaler, Klassenzimmer, Feldberg Lake District
• Gerald Schöberl, Bagatelle, Trier
• Eric Schumacher, Dobler’s Restaurant, Mannheim
• Tobias Schumacher, RARO at the Mühlenhof, Schriesheim
• Danny Schwabe, Masters, Blankenhain
• Manfred Schwarz, Schwarz, Kirchheim an der Weinstraße
• Marcel Siegers, Genusswerk I Alpzitt Chalets, Burgberg
• Elmar Simon, Balthasar, Paderborn
• Florian Sperlhofer, pars, Berlin
• Karl Nikolas Spitzner, Spitzner, Münster (Westphalia)
• Christian Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Auernhofen
• Cédric Staudenmayer, Cédric, Weinstadt
• Holger Stehr, Admiral, Weisenheim
• Philipp Stein, Steins Traube, Mainz
• René Stein, Tisane, Nuremberg
• Christian Steska, Christian & Friends Tastekitchen, Fulda
• André Stolle, The Lisbeth, Hamburg
• Florian Stolte, 1789, Baiersbronn
• Peter A. Strauss, ESS ATELIER STRAUSS, Oberstdorf
• Christian Sturm-Willms, Yunico, Bonn
• Atsushi Sugimoto, Aska, Regensburg
• Marcel Tauschek, Mountain Hub Gourmet, Munich
• Simon Tress, 1950, Hayingen
• Benjamin Unger, St. Andreas, Aue
• Franz-Josef Unterlechner, Schwarzreiter, Munich
• Claudio Urru, Alte Baiz, Neuhausen
• Sven Usinger, Zirbelstube, Freiburg
• Mick Verheijen, Goldener Anker, Dorsten
• René Verse, Tipken’s by Nils Henkel, Keitum (Sylt)
• Marcel von Winckelmann, Marcel von Winckelmann, Passau
• Dominik Wachter, Wachter Foodbar, Prien
• Florian Wagenbach, Silberdistel, Ofterschwang
• Daniel Wallenstein, MOYA by Daniel Wallenstein, Gengenbach
• Brian Wawryk, Traube Blansingen, Efringen-Kirchen
• Felix Weber, Hofstube Deimann, Schmallenberg
• Martin Weghofer, Main Tower, Frankfurt (Main)
• Heinz-Otto Wehmann, Landhaus Scherrer, Hamburg
• Nico Werner, Kochzimmer, Potsdam
• Tobias Weyers, Hannappel, Essen City District VII
• Tom Wickboldt, Kulmeck, Heringsdorf (Usedom)
• Andreas Widmann, Ursprung, Königsbronn
• Nicolai Wiedmer, Eckert, Grenzach-Wyhlen
• Alejandro Wilbrand, Zur Post, Odenthal
• Jörg Wissmann, Jae, Düsseldorf
• Thomas Wohlfeld, Handwerk, Hanover
• Josef Wolf, Eisenbahn, Schwäbisch Hall
• Christian Wonka, Wonka, Nuremberg
• Johannes Wuhrer, Falconera, Öhningen
• Alexander Wulf, TROYKA, Erkelenz
• Steven Zeidler, Bricole, Berlin
• Raik Zeigner, Ich weiß ein Haus am See, Krakow am See
• Patrick Ziegert, Cookies Cream, Berlin

Alongside the ‘100 Best Chefs’ awards, Rolling Pin honoured individuals whose work has provided a special impetus to the restaurant industry and the culinary arts.

The 2026 award winners include, amongst others:

• Inspirational Chef of the Decade: Jamie Oliver | Jamie Oliver Group, London
• Lifetime Achievement: Joachim Wissler | Althoff Hotels, Cologne
• Female Chef of the Year: Nathalie Leblond | Les Deux, Munich
• Rising Star: Jens Madsen | THE CLOUD by Käfer, Munich
• Pastry Chef of the Year: Luise Grottenthaler | AURA by Alexander Herrmann & Tobias Bätz, Wirsberg
• Sous Chef of the Year: Jonas Kostal | Tulus Lotrek, Berlin
• Hospitality Innovator of the Year: Georg Broich | BROICH Catering, Düsseldorf
• Restaurateur of the Year: Moritz Haake | RAYA, Munich
• Dishwasher of the Year: Marco Tardt | L.A. Jordan, Deidesheim
• Maître d’ of the Year: Vanessa Herrmann | Esplanade, Saarbrücken
• Winemaker of the Year: Eva Fricke | Eva Fricke Winery, Eltville

The Rolling Pin.Awards are among the most prestigious industry accolades in the German hospitality sector. More than 10,000 votes were taken into account in the 2026 decisions.