On Sunday evening, March 16, 2025, Steffen Henssler faced off against three celebrity couples on the cooking show "Grill den Henssler" during their "Pärchen-Special." Competitors included TV presenter Katja Burkard with her husband Hans Mahr, actor Tom Beck and his wife Chryssanthi Kavazi, as well as Cheyenne Ochsenknecht and her partner Nino Sifkovits. To aid him, Henssler had his close friend Detlev Steves join the fray, which added to the friendly yet competitive atmosphere. Initially, all seemed harmonious, but one moment stood out—when Henssler's famous Teriyaki sauce became the target of criticism.
During the main contest, Cheyenne and Nino prepared "gegrilltes Teriyaki-Rinderherz mit Kerbelknolle und Fenchel-Apfel-Salat" as their dish, confident and ready to showcase their culinary skills. Nino took the opportunity to comment on Henssler's revered Teriyaki sauce, stating, "We have tried it and have to say: It's not good." This bold comment elicited shock from the host, Laura Wontorra, who exclaimed, "Steffen, did you hear? He’s really cheeky!" Henssler, known for his quick wit, didn’t miss a beat. He replied, "What does it matter to the oak if the pig scratches against it?" clearly unfazed by the remarks.
The competition heated up with the contestants engaged in various cooking challenges, leading to significant moments among the couples. Cheyenne and Nino's dish drew mixed reviews from the jury, which included culinary experts Christian Rach and Bruce Darnell. They managed to score points, but not without some drama. During preparation, Cheyenne and Nino had minor disagreements, which host Wontorra noted, humorously acknowledging the tension, stating, "Everything here is just too harmonious for me!"
Their foray did not end smoothly, as the couple, who are also parents of two children, faced each other during the kitchen competitions. At one point, Nino was criticized for not adhering to the rules, causing Cheyenne to exclaim, "Oh Nino, is it your serious?" Tensions arose as Detlev Steves observed, commenting, "Best to face away from Cheyenne; I believe she might kill us with her looks." Fortunately, Cheyenne reassured everyone with humor, responding, "I'll give you a whack on the neck!" keeping spirits high even as they faced competitive pressures.
After intense rounds, it became evident who performed best. Henssler's team, with Steves by his side, edged out the competition, winning the appetizer round with narrow margins. Cheyenne and Nino lost with 25 to 26 points, and this set the stage for the final dessert challenge.
The dessert round showcased creativity and flair, with Chryssanthi and Tom preparing "Baklava-Croissant mit Trockenpflaume, Apfel und Schwarzbier-Vanillesauce." The final experts praised both couples for their efforts, with Rach and Zarrella each awarding perfect tens. Darnell also echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the artistry behind the dishes, stating, "This is art, this is like theater... and here the drama is perfect." The audience and viewers were treated to what was described as "unbelievable, we are making history" by Wontorra.
Eventually, after all rounds concluded, "Stenssler"—the duo of Henssler and Steves—triumphed with a final score of 109 to 102. This eventful episode left both competitors and viewers entertained, invoking laughter and enjoyment. Next week promises yet another exciting finale to the season.
