DFD Festival 2026: Taste up! 2026 - 2. Kochduell: Restaurant Kö59 × Verband der Köche Deutschlands e.V.

Taste up! 2026 – Cooking Showdowns for Culinary Talents

As part of the DFD Festival 2026 on July 25, 2026, Düsseldorf’s Economic Development Agency will once again bring together young culinary talents and experienced restaurateurs with Taste up! Three exciting live cooking duels at Corneliusplatz will showcase the diversity, creativity, and passion of Düsseldorf’s culinary scene.

In each cooking duel, two established culinary teams will compete against one another alongside their apprentices. The teams will receive an identical basket of selected ingredients and use them to create a creative dish within the allotted time. Afterward, 50 portions of each creation will be served to the audience, who can sample the dishes right on the spot. For participants who follow a vegetarian diet, a suitable vegetarian alternative will be available at every cooking duel.

2nd Cooking Challenge: Restaurant Kö59 × Association of German Chefs e.V.

2:00–3:30 p.m.

In the second cooking duel, Restaurant Kö59 faces off against the German Chefs’ Association (Verband der Köche Deutschlands e.V.). The assigned basket of ingredients includes zucchini, pikeperch, and radishes. The teams face the challenge of creating an original dish from these ingredients that impresses with its flavor, creativity, and appealing presentation.

The ingredient basket combines fresh vegetables with high-quality fish and offers scope for a variety of culinary ideas. Here, too, a suitable alternative to zander will be provided for vegetarian participants.

The dishes will be judged by a five-member panel based on taste, creativity, presentation, and culinary execution. With “Taste up!”, Düsseldorf’s Economic Development Agency is raising the profile of culinary training programs and offering young talents a stage to showcase their skills to a wide audience alongside experienced culinary professionals.

Join us, enjoy the unique atmosphere, sample the freshly prepared dishes, and experience Düsseldorf’s culinary talents up close.

Special thanks go toMETROAG, which is partnering with Taste up! 2026, supporting the cooking competitions with products from its range, and committing to the development of the next generation of culinary professionals.