From apprentice to star chef: Viktor Brandt impresses at The Taste”!

From apprentice to star chef: Viktor Brandt impresses at The Taste”!

There is currently a lot of talk in the cooking scene about Viktor Brandt, a talented contestant on the popular TV show “The Taste”. The young man has his roots in the renowned Wald- und Schlosshotel Friedrichsruhe, which is known not only in Hohenlohe but far beyond for its two Michelin stars. This is also where Brandt's culinary training began, which turned him from a career in the hotel industry into a passionate chef. As stimme.de reports, the hotel director was the reason why Brandt turned his back on his original career plans.

During his apprenticeship he not only discovered his love for cooking, but also the urge to work creatively. After graduating, he moved to lively Vienna, where he experienced a whole new side of gastronomy in the Michelin-starred restaurant Steirereck. “Long working days and intensive experiences” is how Brandt describes his time there, which occasionally caused him to ponder his career choice. But he didn't give up and instead took a new path - through a dual degree in business administration with food management at Lidl in Heilbronn.

Steep career and new perspectives

Brandt's decision to quit his job as a recipe developer in a Munich start-up marked a turning point in his life. He wanted more experience and less routine. During his studies, he lived in shared apartments in downtown Heilbronn, where he made active trips to the Wald- und Schlosshotel's suppliers. “The connections I made at The Taste are invaluable,” he noted. These connections and the collaboration he achieved with other aspiring chefs was a valuable experience for him that he greatly values.

In the current season of “The Taste”, the participants have to prepare dishes on a spoon within 60 minutes, an exciting challenge that also brings with it a lot of pressure. Coaches such as Alexander Herrmann, Steffen Henssler, Elif Oskan and Tim Raue support the candidates. Brandt was secretly signed up for the show by a friend and so he quickly found himself in a new world for him - but in front of the camera he felt easier than expected.

A look at regional gastronomy

The regional influences and opportunities Brandt experienced during his studies complement a growing interest in gastronomy and its connections to agriculture. As Wald's story, which has its origins in the bicycle industry, shows that there is often a long road from initial ideas to significant developments. The founding of the Wald Cycle Company in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, began with a simple repair tool and continued to grow, driven by the brothers' ambitions as they continued to seek new opportunities.

In a world where food and enjoyment are the focus, it remains to be seen what path Viktor Brandt will take after “The Taste”. In the meantime, we can look forward to the next episodes of the show, which will be broadcast on Wednesdays at 8:15 p.m. on Sat1. The episodes are already available on Joyn a week in advance, giving culinary fans numerous opportunities to follow the exciting competition.