THE PRIZE

The prize is awarded by the German Academy for Culinary Studies, supported by the federal state of Baden-Württemberg and the Tourist Marketing Agency of Baden-Württemberg, who both communicate the topic of the gourmet region dedicatedly and successfully.

On Monday, May 18 2009, the International Eckart Witzigmann Prize 2008/09 was awarded in the Neue Schloss Stuttgart within the context of a splendid banquet by the Prime Minister Günther H. Öttinger. Eckart Witzigmann invited the diners to the banquet. The menu in honour of the prize winners was prepared with mainly regional produce from Baden-Württemberg. Great wines from Germany’s south west presented and served by the best vintners accompanied the dishes.

The patron of the Prize

Eckart Witzigmann (born 1941 in Bad Gastein), disciple of Paul Bocuse, received 1979 three Michelin stars for his restaurant Aubergine - the first time that three stars were awarded in Germany. In 1994 he was the first chef in Germany to be named by the Gault Millau Guide “Chef of the Century”. Eckart Witzigmann has been president of the German Academy for Culinary Studies since 2007, which has set up the prize named after him in 2004. In 2007 he received the title of an honorary professor from the Swedish University of Örebro, Department for Culinary Studies.