Currently Germany has 11 three-star restaurants, spread around the country. Not all of these are household names in the international, particularly the English speaking, dining scene. I thought it would be worthwhile to give you a brief introduction to these eleven men.
(copyright: Amador Facebook page)
Juan Amador
Restaurant: Amador in Mannheim
Age: 44
Bio: trained at Albert Bouley's 1-star Waldhorn in Ravensburg, among others - first Michelin star in 1993 at Restaurant Peterselie in Lüdenscheid - second Michelin star in 2002 at Schlosshotel Weyberhöfe in Sailauf - opened his own restaurant 'Amador' in Langen (near Frankfurt) in 2004 - third Michelin star in 2007 - married to Berghild- in 2011 'Amador' restaurant was relocated to Mannheim
Note: Amador closed in May 2015. Juan Amador has plans to open a restaurant in Vienna, but nothing definite yet.
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(copyright: visitsaarland.co.uk)
Christian Bau
Restaurant: Victor's Gourmet-Restaurant Schloss Berg in Perl-Nennig
Age: 42
Bio: trained at Harald Wohlfahrt's 3-star Die Schwarzwaldstube in Baiersbronn among others - executive chef at Schloss Berg since 1998 - married to Yildiz, who's the restaurant manager at Schloss Berg - first Michelin star in 1998 - second Michelin star in 1999 - third Michelin star in 2005
(copyright: Thomas Buhner Facebook page)
Thomas Bühner
Restaurant: La Vie in Osnabrück
Age: 51
Bio: trained at Jörg Müller on the isle of Sylt and at Die Schwarzwaldstube in Baiersbronn, among others - first Michelin star at La Table restaurant in Dortmund in 1996 - second Michelin star at La Table in 1998 - executive chef at (then 1-star) La Vie since 2006 - second Michelin star in 2006 - third Michelin star in 2011 - married to Thayarni Kanagaratnam, restaurant manager at La Vie - number 63 in the World's 100 Best Restaurants.
(copyright: Sven Elverfeld)
Sven Elverfeld
Restaurant: Aqua at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Wolfsburg
Age: 45
Bio: trained at (multi) Michelin starred Dieter Müller in Bergisch-Gladbach, Humperdinck in Frankfurt and Hessler in Maintal, among others - executive chef at Aqua since 2000 - first Michelin star in 2001 - second Michelin star in 2005 - third Michelin star in 2008 - trained pastry chef - number 30 in the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2013.
(copyright: Klaus Erfort)
Klaus Erfort
Restaurant: Gästehaus Erfort in Saarbrücken
Age: 41
Bio: trained at Claus-Peter Lumpp's 3-star Bareiss in Baiersbronn and 3-star Die Schwarzwaldstube in Baiersbronn, among others - first Michelin star in 1995 at Restaurant Orangerie in Völklingen (near Saarbrücken) - opened his own restaurant 'Gästehaus Erfort' in Saarbrücken in 2002 - first Michelin star at Gästehaus Erfort in 2002 - second Michelin in 2004 - third Michelin star in 2008 - married.
(copyright: Kevin Fehling Facebook page)
Kevin Fehling
Restaurant: La Belle Epoque at the Columbia Hotel in Travemünde
Age: 36
Bio: trained at l'Echalote in Bremen, Michelin starred Wollenberg and Piment in Hamburg, Restaurant Wullenwever in Lübeck, Die Schwarzwaldstube in Baiersbronn, among others - executive chef at La Belle Epoque since 2005 - first Michelin star in 2007 - second Michelin star in 2010 - third Michelin star in 2012 - married.
Note: Kevin Fehling left La Belle Epoque in March 2015 and has opened his own restaurant in Hamburg called 'The Table'
(copyright: Restaurant Überfahrt)
Christian Jürgens
Restaurant: Überfahrt at the Seehotel in Rottach-Egern
Age: 45
Bio: trained at 3-star Residenz Heinz Winkler in Aschau, 2-star Jörg Müller on the isle of Sylt and at Eckart Witzigmann's 3-star Aubergine in Munich, among others - first Michelin star at Restaurant am Marstall in Munich in 1998 - second Michelin star at Restaurant Kastell at Hotel Burg Wernberg in Wernberg-Köblitz in 2002 - became executive chef at restaurant Überfahrt in 2008 - two Michelin stars in the 2009 guide - third Michelin star in 2013 - married.
(copyright: restaurants-chefs.com)
Claus-Peter Lumpp
Restaurant: Bareiss in Baiersbronn
Age: 49
Bio: trained at Heinz Winkler's 3-star Tantris in Munich, 3-star Aubergine in Munich, Alain Ducasse's 3-star Louis XV in Monaco, among others - became head chef at 2-star Restaurant Bareiss in 1992 - third Michelin star in 2007.
(copyright: germany.travel.com)
Helmut Thieltges
Restaurant: Waldhotel Sonnora in Wittlich
Age: 58
Bio: chef and owner of Waldhotel Sonnora since 1978 - trained in Germany and in Switzerland - first Michelin star in 1981 - second Michelin star in 1991 - third Michelin star in 1999 - married to Ulrike, restaurant manager.
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(copyright: Schloss Bensberg Facebook page)
Joachim Wissler
Restaurant: Vendôme restaurant at Schlosshotel Bensberg in Bergisch-Gladbach
Age: 50
Bio: trained at Weissen Rössl in Hinterzarten and at Brenners Parkhotel in Baden-Baden, among others - first Michelin star in 1995 at Marcobrunn restaurant at Schloss Reinhartshausen in Eltville - second Michelin star in 1996 at Marcobrunn - became executive chef at Vendôme in 2000 - Vendôme won its first Michelin star in 2001 - second Michelin star in 2002 - third Michelin star in 2005 - number 10 in the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2013.
(copyright: times.co.uk)
Harald Wohlfahrt
Restaurant: Die Schwarwaldstube at Hotel Traube Tonbach in Baiersbronn
Age: 58
Bio: trained at Willi Schwank's 2-star restaurant Stahlbad in Baden-Baden, 3-star Tantris in Munich and an internship at Alain Chapel in Mionnay - became executive chef at (then 2-star) Die Schwarwaldstube in 1980 - three Michelin stars since 1992 - married - number 83 in The World's 100 Best Restaurants.
