Koch des Jahres

The trendsetting gastronomy event

KOCH DES JAHRES (Chef of the Year) is the most renowned live competition in the industry and is aimed at professional chefs from the D-A-CH region and South Tyrol. The organizer is the Grupo Caterdata S.L. The event takes place at European level.

The origin is in Spain, where the event has been held with great success since 2004. Koch des Jahres was launched in Germany in 2010 and is now in its sixth edition.

The participants compete against each other in three preliminary finals. A jury of renowned top restaurateurs chooses two finalists for each pre-final. The six selected talents will then fight at Anuga in Cologne for the prestigious title of Koch des Jahres (Chef of the Year) and prize money of 10,000 euros as well as numerous special prizes awarded by the sponsors.

The participants can expect a high level of media attention in the specialist and general press through numerous articles, radio and TV reports as well as through our social media channels and network of multipliers.

Chef of the Year offers talented chefs a unique platform and the career leap of a lifetime. A recipe for success that bears fruit: To date, we have over 30 Michelin stars discovered, including pioneers such as Sebastian Frank (Chef of the Year 2011), who received his second Michelin star in 2015 and was named “Best Chef in Europe” in 2018.

The live competitions are always accompanied by a comprehensive supporting program. Stage shows, workshops and panel discussions as well as an exclusive evening program create space for exchange and networking. “Chef of the Year” is much more than a competition, but is a think tank for new concepts that move the catering industry.