On March 16, 2025, the culinary world of 'Das perfekte Dinner' saw dramatic highs and lows during the week hosted in Bremen. Tensions simmered as Zeynep, trying her best, faced harsh backlash from one of her guests, Nico, who shockingly awarded her 0 points during the final dinner.
This week marked Zeynep's notable turn as she cooked for her friends alongside contestants like Philip, Charlotte, and Elena. Despite being known for her vegan lifestyle, Zeynep brought non-vegan dishes to the table for her guests' sake, striving for fairness as the competition progressed. With the ambition of showcasing her heritage, her menu included her mother's favorite ingredients, with origins from her family's village.
Her menu featured:
- Starter: Hirtenkäse on wild salad with pomegranate seeds and walnuts.
- Main Course: Lamb rack coated with pistachios and herbs served with mashed potatoes and sautéed cherry tomatoes.
- Dessert: Creamy cheesecake with fruity pomegranate sauce.
Zeynep’s friends enthusiastically awaited her creations. Elena described the cheese as "really great," delighting to find personal flavors connecting them to Zeynep's family traditions. Meanwhile, Nico, who had never hesitated to criticize vegan cuisine throughout the week, dismissed the meal, emphasizing his dislike for lamb, stating, "I am not a lamb fan at all. My palate can’t handle it!" By the end of the evening, he left Zeynep devastated as he awarded her 0 points.
It’s clear there was no love lost between Nico and the other contestants. His disdain for Zeynep's meal was palpable. "I had to restrain myself from getting up because I genuinely felt ill," Nico later confessed during his commentary. His fellow contestant Elena countered his critiques, challenging him about appreciating culinary skills regardless of personal taste. "Independent of personal preference, you can at least assess and appreciate the craft and personal effort put forth," she insisted, providing strong pushback against his judgment.
Leading up to the final scores, the drama of the week revolved around Nico’s controversial behavior, which left many viewers questioning if his appearance was merely a stunt for public relations or genuine participation. Viewers took to social media platforms expressing grievances like, "He seems to be on the show for self-promotion rather than genuine cooking interest," and "Is this really what we want to watch?" Such sentiments captured the growing frustration among fans, resulting in calls for Nico's departure from the show altogether.
Adding to the tensions was the fact his portrayal throughout the week failed to impress viewers. His menu included:
- Starter: Tomato variations on burrata.
- Main Course: Tagliatelle with salmon in white wine sauce.
- Dessert: Mallorcan crema catalana.
Despite planning to serve the original dessert, he hastily switched to baked apples, remarking, "I’m doing this specially for the vegan participant... just to gain some points." His attempt fell flat when guests deduced the insincerity behind his change of heart.
Charlotte managed to take the week by storm with her culinary finesse, bringing home the winning title with 31 points, leaving Zeynep trailing behind with only 25 points. Her victory came after enduring the brunt of criticism aimed at others and providing actual flavorful, well-cooked dishes.
Despite hopeful beginnings, the 'Das perfekte Dinner' week became the subject of intense debate from viewers who found fault not only with specific contestants but also with the show’s casting choices. Comments like "I’ve never seen such unpleasant people cast" and “It’s time to cancel this show,” surfaced repeatedly on social media. Whether the production team takes heed of the audience dissatisfaction remains to be seen, but enthusiasm for future installments appears uncertain.
The spectacle of personalities clashing and the culinary adventures continued, inviting audiences back next week. Dinners were served, but stakes were higher than mere points; relationships among participants were increasingly strained through misjudgments and lack of culinary diplomacy, proving once again why the kitchen is often the heart of conflict.