Göhren, a Baltic Sea resort, 21 October 2026 – A celebrity addition to a culinary showdown on Rügen: TV chef Ralf Zacherl has confirmed at short notice that he will be taking part in this year’s cooking party at the Vju Hotel Rügen. And he’s not just coming to watch: on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, he’ll be at the hob himself, presenting his creations at his own live cooking station. Together with three head chefs from arcona Hotels, he’ll be competing under the banner ‘Battle of the arcona Chefs’. From 6 pm, guests can look forward to an evening full of culinary artistry, surprising taste experiences and personal encounters.
Ralf Zacherl is known to a wide audience from numerous television programmes. With his creative and straightforward approach to cooking, he has been delighting food lovers and amateur chefs alike for years. At the cooking battle in Göhren, guests can now experience the famous TV chef up close, watch him prepare his dishes and sample them right there on the spot.
But his three fellow competitors also have plenty to offer: Björn Weber, head chef at the Vju Hotel Rügen, enjoys home advantage as the host. Johannes Wallner is travelling from the historic Hotel Elephant in Weimar, bringing with him international experience and creative ideas. Karsten Wettberg from the Hotel Kaiserhof Heringsdorf represents the neighbouring island of Usedom and relies on his very own personal culinary style.
The chefs will be demonstrating their skills at four live cooking stations. Guests can stroll from station to station, sample the dishes, compare them and chat with the professionals. In the end, each guest decides for themselves which dish wins their personal taste test.
The Kitchen Party at the Vju Hotel Rügen is all about enjoyment without any stuffy formalities. Instead of traditional set menus and fixed seating, guests can look forward to a relaxed atmosphere with culinary discoveries, good conversation and music.
The menu ranges from oysters and champagne to sophisticated specialities and a selection of cheese and wine pairings. DJ Mike BLN will provide the musical accompaniment for the evening, whilst a raffle with attractive prizes offers further entertainment.
The Vju Hotel Rügen is specifically aiming to attract people from the island with its Kitchen Party. That is why there is a special admission price for locals resident on Rügen: they pay 119 euros instead of the standard 132 euros per person. The discounted price also applies to members of the ‘my arcona’ loyalty programme.
The admission price includes all food and drinks for the evening. Anyone wishing to combine the evening with a short getaway can pair the Kitchen Party with an overnight stay at the Vju Hotel Rügen.
The Vju Hotel Rügen is situated in a prominent location above the Baltic Sea resort of Göhren on the Nordperd hill on the Mönchgut peninsula. With sweeping views across the Baltic Sea, a varied range of dining options and a host of wellness and relaxation facilities, the hotel is both a retreat for holidaymakers and a meeting place for local residents. The hotel is part of the arcona Group, which operates distinctive hotels in selected locations.
Founded in 2008, arcona Hotels & Resorts, based in Rostock, specialises in the operation and development of first-class leisure and holiday hotels. The seven arcona properties currently in operation are situated in buildings, some of which are listed, in renowned holiday destinations such as Rügen, Sylt and Usedom. The portfolio includes, amongst others, the well-known Hotel Elephant Weimar, the historic Hotel Kaiserhof on Usedom and the Golfclub Schloss Teschow. As a licensee of the Barefoot concept developed by Til Schweiger, arcona also operates Barefoot Hotels in established destinations such as Mallorca. The owners and shareholders of arcona are Alexander Winter and Treugast founder Prof. Stephan Gerhard. The company is headquartered in the protected historic Zeeck’sche Villa in Rostock.
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