The competitive culinary show 'Das perfekte Dinner' turned up its heat once again on March 18, 2025, with contestants battling it out for the top score. This week's theme unfolded in Bremen, where three participants brought their unique cooking styles—and controversies—to the table.
First up was Zeynep (34), who made the bold choice to deviate from her long-standing vegan diet for the occasion. Known for her impressive culinary skills, she crafted a menu themed "Von funkelnden Rubinen und goldenen Momenten." Her offerings included the appetizer Hirtenkäse on wild salad with pomegranate seeds and walnuts, followed by main dish lamb cutlets coated with pistachio herbs on potato mash with cherry tomatoes, and finished with creamy cheesecake served with fruity pomegranate sauce.
Despite Zeynep's determination to impress her guests by providing non-vegan options, she faced harsh criticism, particularly from Nico (39). Known for his harsh critiques throughout the week, Nico dismissed the chef's efforts, stating, "Ich musste mich beherrschen, dass ich nicht aufgestanden bin, weil mir war wirklich nicht gut." He infamously awarded her zero points for the meal, leading to Zeynep receiving just 25 points overall, compared to Charlotte's winning score of 31 points.
Elena (31), another guest and competitor, acknowledged the effort, stating, "Unabhängig davon, wie dein persönlicher Geschmack ist, kannst du zumindest das Handwerk und die persönliche Leistung einschätzen und vor allem wertschätzen." This sentiment highlighted the juxtaposition between personal taste and skill appreciation.
Following Zeynep was Philip (23), a student who aimed to take his guests on "A Journey Through Vietnam." Unfortunately, his preparation hit the skids when he realized key ingredients for his Pho had been pilfered by his roommate. He remarked, "Mitternachts wohl nochmal schön Suppengemüse gegessen," illustrating his frustration. Thankfully, with help from his sous-chef, he managed to retrieve the necessary vegetables just before serving.
Philip's three-course menu featured the shrimp and tofu appetizer "Sommer in Hanoi," the main dish "Baden in Saigon" of Vietnamese rice noodle soup, and dessert "Kokostraum am Mekongdelta" with crème caramel topped with coconut. Yet favorable opinions were hard to come by, with Charlotte questioning, "Hattest du kein Salz mehr?" about the lack of flavor present, exemplified by Nico’s stark assessment of the main dish tasting "like water." Despite these setbacks, Philip secured himself 22 points.
The fourth day of competition fell to Nico, who didn’t shy away from branding his cooking as less-than-perfect. He introduced his guests to various tomato variations on burrata for the entrée, followed by tagliatelle with salmon and white wine sauce. Yet, the highlight—or rather lowlight—came with the promised Mallorquinische Crema catalana, which was replaced with mere apple slices, creatively marketed as "Mallorquinischer Apfel." Philip found the appetizer lackluster, stating, "Für mich war die Portion erbärmlich," encapsulating the frustrations of the evening. Charlotte only had one thought about the dish: "Das war ein Happs, ein Zwischengang."
Despite the lack of substance, Nico received 25 points overall. After serving such small portions with little effort, his shocking honesty about his dishes drew mixed reactions from the guests. Philip lamented after the evening's end, "Es wurde als mehr verkauft, als es eigentlich ist. Und das fand ich halt schade," underscoring his disappointment.
Overall, the week on 'Das perfekte Dinner' was filled with high expectations and culinary mishaps. Different styles were showcased, but sadly, not every meal hit the mark. With Zeynep earning 25 points, Philip achieving 22 points, and Nico finishing with 25, the competitive nature is bound to breed more spirited cooking contests to come, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. With Charlotte's standout performance, she walks away as the week's champion, but the experiences of the other contestants are sure to linger on as they strive for perfection next time.
