On March 16, 2025, the popular cooking show Grill den Henssler made history by introducing its first Pärchen-Special, where celebrity couples teamed up to whip up culinary delights. The competition featured reality star Cheyenne Ochsenknecht and her husband Nino Sifkovits, TV personality Katja Burkard with her partner Hans Mahr, and actors Chryssanthi Kavazi and Tom Beck. Not to be left out, host Steffen Henssler was joined by the ever-colorful Detlef Steves as his partner, humorously referred to as "his little handicap" during the show.
This special episode aired at 20:15 on VOX and was also made available for streaming on RTL+, drawing audiences with its blend of competitive cooking and charismatic hosts. The culinary clash featured professional coaching from renowned chefs Elif Oskan and Markus Stöckle, who previously triumphed over Henssler during the Mother’s Day special.
The celebrity pairs had the task of preparing three courses, with the jury composed of Christian Rach, Jana Ina Zarrella, and guest juror Bruce Darnell judging their creations. The culinary competition kicked off with Cheyenne and Nino's ambitious dish of Gegrilltes Teriyaki-Rinderherz mit Kerbelknolle und Fenchel-Apfelsalat. They showcased their own homemade Teriyaki sauce, with Cheyenne cheekily stating, "We definitely do it ourselves and we don't use it from the jar," adding spice to the competition.
While the pair came out swinging with confidence, they couldn’t escape the judges' criticism—Nino provocatively remarked about Henssler’s famous Teriyaki sauce saying, "We’ve tried it before and we have to say: it’s not good," which elicited gasps from the audience. Laura Wontorra, the host, playfully rebuked Nino, "Steffen, did you hear this? It’s really cheeky here!" Henssler, maintaining his humor, responded with the well-known saying, "What does it concern the oak when the pig rubs against it?"
The first course ended with Cheyenne and Nino scoring 24 to 26 points, primarily due to the noted absence of significant Teriyaki sauce, which two judges remarked was insufficient. Meanwhile, Henssler and Steves also found success with their course, winning the Impro-Gang challenge 22 to 16.
The main course was no less intense; Katja Burkard and Hans Mahr prepared authentic Wiener Schnitzel, during which Katja offered marriage advice based on their long-term relationship of over 25 years. "It’s important not to hang around each other too much," she shared, demonstrating their formula for maintaining harmony.
The dessert round, featuring Baklava-Croissant mit Trockenpflaume, Apfel und Schwarzbier-Vanillesauce from Chryssanthi Kavazi and Tom Beck, became the real highlight of the competition. Each dish received rave reviews, culminating in every juror awarding 10 points, marking the first time such high praise was achieved, leading to an exciting 30-30 tie.
Despite overwhelming dessert accolades, Henssler and Steves clinched overall victory with impressive craftsmanship across all courses, ending with total scores of 109 to 102. This margin reflected not just skillful cooking but also the show’s engaging format, remarking how cooking can blend with entertainment and showcase personalities.
Steffes, notorious for his candid remarks during reality TV competitions, remarked on the absurdities of modern reality television culture, emphasizing his desire for content with depth and substance. His critiques included the transformation of reality format merit under loud outbursts and shocking performances.
"It’s like sports now. The loudest one wins, drop the others to the bottom, and he is the coolest," Steves explained, hinting at the show's transformation over the years.
The excitement, challenges, and banter resulted not only in culinary triumphs but also built camaraderie among the contestants, making it clear Grill den Henssler is not just about cooking but about celebration, love, and fun. Viewers were left enchanted, eagerly anticipating the next episode, where Henssler will once again stand alone without his charming partner.