Jacqueline Pfeiffer (Le Ciel): Chef of the Year 2012

February 15th, 2012

Jacqueline Pfeiffer, head chef at Le Ciel, is Austria's Chef of the Year 2012. The coveted S.Pellegrino Culinary Selection award was presented to the young star chef this February at a festive gala in Munich. More than sixty top chefs with a combined total of about one hundred stars were present at the award ceremony.

The S.Pellegrino Culinary Selection consolidates the results from the best restaurant guides in Austria and Germany, offering epicureans a well-informed overview of the countries' best destinations for haute cuisine. Leading personalities from the upscale gastronomy sector in Germany and Austria gathered at this year's gala for the 13^th edition of the S.Pellegrino Culinary Selection in Munich to celebrate the best chefs and restaurants in both countries.

Jacqueline Pfeiffer of Le Ciel at the Grand Hotel Wien won the title of Austria's Chef of the Year in the Acqua Panna Special Prizes category. "As a chef, there is nothing I value more than the daily feedback and 'awards' I receive from my guests. But of course this kind of professional award as best chef of the year 2012 is a great pleasure for me. It's both a confirmation and a strong incentive. The fact that I can consider myself part of the league of great chefs who received the prize before me is an especially meaningful honor."

Jacqueline Pfeiffer completed her training at Le Ciel on the 7^th floor of the Grand Hotel Wien in 1995. After successfully completing her apprenticeship, her career took her to Germany, Switzerland, and France, until she finally returned to the Grand Hotel Wien, where she treats guests to her signature creations at the two-toque ranking Le Ciel. Le Ciel is one of the few truly classic traditional restaurants remaining in Vienna, and features a sophisticated ambience, piano music, and flawless service. Jacqueline Pfeiffer's creative cooking style ranges from refined elegance to unusual flavor combinations distinguished by exciting contrasts and perfect complements.

www.leciel.at