During the finale of the hit Vox show "Das perfekte Dinner" held in Bremen, tensions reached their peak when participant Nico awarded 0 points to his fellow contestant Zeynep's carefully prepared menu. The decision sent shockwaves through the audience and sparked outrage across social media platforms.
Zeynep, 34, who has embraced veganism for the past five years, ventured out of her comfort zone by preparing a non-vegan menu for her fellow competitors. Her goal was to create equal conditions, as the other participants had gone to the extra effort of preparing vegan alternatives for her. To embody her theme "Von funkelnden Rubinen und goldenen Momenten," Zeynep prepared Lammkarree im Pistazien-Kräutermantel (lamb back with pistachio-herb coating) accompanied by Kartoffelstampf (mashed potatoes) and geschmorte Cherrytomaten (braised cherry tomatoes). The dish themed around her rich oriental heritage was complemented by personal touches such as pistachios from her family’s harvest.
"The ingredients I chose hold great significance for me," Zeynep explained, with the honey for the appetizer sourced from her brother's beehives. Her heartfelt effort was not enough for some, particularly Nico, whom many viewers have criticized throughout the week for hispessimistic approach to fellow contestants' efforts.
Throughout the dinner, Nico expressed disdain for Zeynep's menu, declaring "Salat esse ich dann, wenn ich abnehmen muss. Ich bin kein Hase" (I eat salad when I need to lose weight. I'm no rabbit) when presented with the starter, Hirtenkäse auf Wildsalat (shepherd's cheese on wild salad) adorned with pomegranate seeds and walnuts. His hesitance did not stop there; when the main course was served, he wrinkled his nose and remarked, "Aber riechen tut das schon streng" (It smells strong).
Prior to the scoring, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. The other contestants scored Zeynep’s creations with respectable 8, 9, and 8 points, placing the outcome of her week's efforts on Nico's shoulders. The stakes were high with Zeynep achieving 32 points, which would have secured her the week win.
Yet, to everyone's shock, Nico vehemently stood by his decision to award 0 points, insisting, "Ich bleibe bei meiner Meinung, das sind für mich heute 0 Punkte. Das Essen hat mir nach wie vor nicht geschmeckt" (I stand by my opinion; this is 0 points for me today. The food still didn’t taste good). His reasoning did not resonate favorably with either Zeynep or the audience, many of whom took to social media to express their discontent.
Elena, another contestant, vehemently disagreed with Nico's rating, stating, "Unabhängig davon, wie dein persönlicher Geschmack ist, kannst du zumindest das Handwerk und die persönliche Leistung einschätzen und vor allem wertschätzen" (Regardless of your personal taste, you can at least assess and appreciate the craftsmanship and personal effort).
Nico's scoring decision and behavior drew widespread ridicule. Viewers expressed their grievances online, with many calling him "unangenehmen Menschen" (an unpleasant person) and some demanding action from the Vox network. Comments like "Vox, was ist los? Gehen euch die guten Kandidaten aus?“ (Vox, what's going on? Are you running out of good candidates?) were prevalent, with some fans urging the network to discontinue the show.
The 39-year-old singer's unsportsmanlike critique stirred waves of discourse among the show’s fanbase, leading viewers to question the appropriateness of entertaining contestants with such contrasting attitudes. During the final night’s return, viewers were divided between those who supported the contestant showcasing traditional dishes reflective of personal history and those eager to see Nico's negative objections fall flat.
Despite the polarizing reactions to Nico's approach, the episode garnered impressive ratings; it achieved 10.9 percent market share among viewers aged 14 to 49, translating to approximately 1.08 million viewers, according to AGF video research. Notably, the culinary fervor remains intact, proving cooking shows' ability to spark spirited conversations and emotional responses.
Charlotte, the week's overall winner, secured her victory with 31 points, primarily benefiting from the unabashedly candid critiques shared by her fellow contestants. Viewers continue to discuss the highs and lows of dinner week, with brands like Vox engaging directly with their fanbase online.
While the discourse surrounding the conduct of contestants like Nico is significant, it brings to the forefront the broader themes of competition, taste, and personal expression within cooking competitions. Fans remain invested, eager to see the evolution of culinary creativity alongside the triumphs and tribulations of the participants.