Best Restaurants in Germany and Austria: Kulinarische Auslese

The best restaurants and chefs throughout Germany and Austria were celebrated recently during the 13th edition of the S.Pellegrino Culinary Selection.

Celebrities, stars and 60 top chefs together with 400 vip guests attended the selection during a special evening and dinner at the teatro in Munich on the 6th of February.

Guests were spoiled with a 4-course menu, including a potato soup with truffles and veal fillet with a breaded crust as they found out who has been selected. 

By focusing on the most renowned restaurants in both countries' top food guides (Michelin, Gault Millau, Varta, Schlemmer Atlas, A la carte, Der Feinschmecker, Falstaff Restaurant Guide), since 2000 the S.Pellegrino Culinary Selection creates a list of places that offer a unique compilation of the best places to visit for upmarket cuisine. 

In the same occasion Acqua Panna highlights with special prizes the "Best female chef of the year", the "Best sommelier of the year", the "Rising star of the year" and teh "New Opening of the year".

Here is a look at the top winners from this edition. The whole list of S.Pellegrino Culinary Selection is  available in an exclusive hardcover format which can be ordered online and it is also available for free as an iPhone app.

Top German chefs and restaurants
Three German chefs and restaurants were honored all taking joint top: Harald Wohlfahrt (Schwarzwaldstube restaurant, Baiersbronn), Joachim Wissler (Vendôme restaurant,Bergisch Gladbach) and Helmut Thieltges (Waldhotel Sonnora restaurant, Dreis).

Top Austrian chefs and restaurants
Karl and Rudolf Obauer (Obauer restaurant, Werfen) and Heinz Reitbauer jun. (Steirereck im Stadtpark restaurant, Vienna) were joint top, ahead of Johanna Maier (Hotel Hubertus restaurant, Filzmoos) and LislWagner-Bacher (Landhaus Bacher restaurant, Mautern) in joint second place.

Acqua Panna Special Prize for “New Opening of the Year”
Oliver Röder (Bembergs Häuschen restaurant, Euskirchen) in Germany, and Thomas Wohlfarter (Amarantis, Vienna) in Austria.

Acqua Panna Special Prize for “Rising Star of the Year”
Tim Raue (Tim Raue restaurant, Berlin), who has worked his way up from Place 892 to Place 59 since 2011, was honoured as German “Rising Star of the Year” and Simon Taxacher (Rosengarten restaurant, Kirchberg in Tirol) received the corresponding prize for Austria thanks to his improved ranking from Place 128 to seven.

Acqua Panna Special Prize for “Female Chef of the Year”
In Germany Ulrike Stoebe (Landhaus Mühlenberg restaurant, Daufenbach), and in Austria Jacqueline Pfeiffer (Le Ciel restaurant, Vienna).

Acqua Panna Special Prize for “Sommelier of the Year”
Thomas Sommer (Schloss Lerbach, Bergisch Gladbach).