Imagine this: a spring day in May; set against the backdrop of the castle with its blooming park, white-clothed tables under white parasols await the guests of the kitchen party at Hugenpoet. In a relaxed atmosphere, they enjoy the creations of the four culinary professionals, watch them during front cooking, or let sommelier Nadine Behrmann invite them to one tasting or another. After all, she has invited renowned wineries to Hugenpoet. Sounds good? It is! Kitchen parties have long been a tradition at the castle hotel — not least thanks to the dedication of head chef Dominik Schab.
Well connected in the region — and beyond — he has once again invited distinguished guest chefs to Hugenpoet. “You’re simply connected, you stay up to date via Instagram,” says the head chef, “and when it fits, you support each other at events.” But isn’t it difficult when four chefs, who usually lead their own teams, suddenly have to work together?
Dominik Schab smiles knowingly — he understands that the question alludes to the often-assumed eccentricity of top-level chefs. “The days when head chefs shouted around are over,” says Dominik Schab, who leads a team of 18 chefs at Hugenpoet, including nine trainees. “Today’s head chefs are team players. Otherwise, it’s impossible to consistently deliver top performance.”
The sommelier of Restaurant 1831, Nadine Behrmann, also brings renowned wineries to the party thanks to her contacts. Look forward to:
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, Champagne
Battenfeld Spanier Winery, Rheinhessen
Kühling-Gillot Winery, Rheinhessen
Van Volxem Winery, Mosel
Jürgen Ellwanger Winery, Württemberg
Château la Gordonne, Provence
Discover the food trends of 2026 with Dominik Schab and learn more about developments in sustainable cuisine. These are the guest chefs the head chef of Restaurant 1831 has invited to the kitchen party on May 17:
Mirko Gaul* Restaurant Taku, Köln
Joschua Tepner Restaurant the Dutch, Köln
Lukas Jakobi* Restaurant Zwanzig23 by Lukas Jakobi, Düsseldorf
A little tip: As the number of guests is limited, it’s “first come, first served.” We wish you a wonderful day at Hugenpoet — and if we are already fully booked, make a note for yourself: the second kitchen party of the year will take place on October 11. All details can be found at hugenpoet.de/events.
