Creative catering trainees wanted

HATTENHEIM, Germany: The Josef Laufer Foundation is looking for creative catering trainees for the second "Genuss-Kultur-Preis" until 1 October 2024. Instead of initiating a traditional cooking or serving competition, the foundation is much more interested in encouraging young people to develop fresh ideas for the catering industry.

"We are concerned with the future of our industry in the context of the culture of enjoyment in Germany," explains foundation founder Josef Laufer from the Hattenheim wine house Zum Krug. "We want to inspire young people for the catering industry. The opportunity to be creative and realise their own ideas is one of the main reasons why our industry is simply great!"

The conditions of participation are explained in detail on the website www.josef-laufer-stiftung.de: "Imagine you have your own restaurant. How do you make your guests happy there? Write down your innovative culinary ideas, send them to us and win the Genuss-Kultur prize." The path to the goal is up to each trainee. There are no specifications for the food, the drinks, the decoration, the music, the colours or the smells. There are no limits to creativity.

The three winners of the year will be chosen from the best ideas and rewarded with 1,000 euros for first place, 500 euros for second place and 250 euros for third place. All trainees in the catering professions of "chefs", "hotel and restaurant specialists", "system caterers", "bakers" and "confectioners" are eligible to take part.

"Gastronomy and the way we enjoy food is changing," says Gerd Eis, former Michelin-starred chef and member of the Foundation Board. "We are looking for young people who can help shape and secure this future." The winners can spend the prize money on further training or professional equipment. "We also support the award winners beyond the prize, help with the large foundation network and, on request, financially with further seminars or workshops," promises Josef Laufer.

Under the motto "Where guests are friends", the Josef Laufer Foundation promotes and challenges the future of the culture of enjoyment. How do you prepare enjoyment? How do you enjoy properly? And how can we work together as a society to secure this future with talented and committed hosts?

The Josef Laufer Foundation is committed to ensuring that enjoyment is not neglected in an increasingly fast-paced world. The foundation continues Josef Laufer's life's work with further training, role models, sponsorships, campaigns and events, focussing on the next generation of restaurateurs. The organisation is committed to preserving and promoting a responsible culture of enjoyment in Germany. The founder of the foundation, Josef Laufer, understands this to mean the experience of the harmonious interplay of hospitality, food, drink and ambience.