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One of the most famous chefs in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg is the 58-year-old Michael Wollenberg, who is a small legend among the chefs in the Hamburg kitchen.

His talent was quite noticeable in his youth and he started early to make his passion his profession. Starting with an apprenticeship at the Atlantic Hotel, he already really cranked up the cooking competition in Hamburg and won several prizes. At the age of just 19, he was the winner of the trainees in the "Golden Frying Pan" competition, and just one year later he won first place in the "Hamburg Youth Championship" and even in the "German Youth Championship" in Berlin. This was followed by prizes such as vice world champion in the international competition Commis Rotisseur in Venice and the award "German Champion of Young Chefs" in Koblenz. In addition to the German Championship of Young Chefs and Michelin stars, the fascinating award "Prix de Poisson Bocuse" in gold followed, making Michael the best fish chef in the world.

One thing is clear, Michael Wollenberg knows how to stir the wooden spoon and deliver his guests a taste explosion of the finest. He is a workhorse and also very charming. His rocket launch succeeds him in the gourmet dessert of Harburg in the restaurant Marinas. He led Marinas to become the first-starred restaurant in Harburg, which was followed two years later by the Michelin star with a turnover of six million marks. Michael Wollenberg became a star. The Michelin-starred chef left the Marinas and in the future focused on "Das Wollenberg," the restaurant and nightclub on the Alster named after him. In 1998, the Wollenberg was built for six million marks in the former "Insel" discotheque on the banks of the Alster, on four floors with two upscale restaurants, bars, and a disco. The Michelin star followed just one year later.

In addition to his successes, the top chef naturally always had obstacles and challenges. In his restaurant "Das Wollenberg", he had introduced a tie obligation for the gentlemen, which the society did not find so funny. Although the VIP and celebrity restaurant was very popular, Wollenberg had to withdraw the tie requirement in 1998.

A year later, his second mainstay, Marinas, loses its Michelin star. Since Michael stopped cooking there, the restaurant has lost its spice. Then in 2003, he withdrew completely from the Marinas. Due to health problems, he also put the event manager Michael Ammer in front of the door of the Wellenberg. A renovation and a new concept of the event agency "Park-Projekte" followed. The Wollenberg continued to do well and it worked out with the Michelin star. In November 2003, Michael Wollenberg had himself treated by the official HSV doctor, Dr. Gerold Schwartz. The rather irregular working hours sometimes 7 in the morning until late in the evening, were a bit too much for the then 39-year-old. "I realized that it couldn't go on like that," says the world-champion fish cook. Wollenberg kept his share of 30 percent, entrepreneur Hagen Rickman 20 percent, brain investor Dieter Becker 20 percent, businessman Ian K. Karan ten percent, and another Hamburg manager the remaining 20 percent.

After some time, however, Micheal Wollenberg has, fortunately, fit again and took over the Wattkorn restaurant in Langenhorn in 2005. The North German restaurant promises a cozy atmosphere with a super location and North German specialties and classics of the finest. Especially in spring and summer, the restaurant is a great success due to its terrace and idyllic garden. The guests are welcomed here not by the broad-shouldered doorman but by two cheeky gray parrots. Michael is happy and has changed since his return. The fish chef tells how awards and fancy dress parties no longer interest him. Instead, he has begun to fill his life with travel, exploring the world. He likes to travel to Africa to hunt. He has also finally managed to finish his long-awaited cookbook.

In "Richtig Wild", a cookbook with game recipes, Wollenberg reveals his best game recipes together with chef Michael Scherer. Classics such as Hamburger Rundstück vom Wildbraten or pears, beans, and bacon, as well as finesses and wild duck breast with rhubarb confit or Baumkuchen, are not to be missed. Wollenberg usually shoots the meat for his dishes himself. He has developed a small passion for hunting since he finds the time.

In 2019, Michael Wollenberg had some problems with the state. The public prosecutor's office brought the top chef from Hamburg before the district court in Barmbek for multiple violations of the Food and Feed Code. The gourmet chef rejects the accusation that sushi is frozen at a temperature of 20 degrees for at least 24 hours before processing. The constant checks are really starting to get on Micheal Wollenberg's nerves. "I really wonder sometimes how long one wants to put up with this hassle with the authorities. After all, I don't want to bother with the authorities, I want to be an excellent cook and host first and foremost," he says.

He is giving up his two restaurants, the Eichenkrug in Volksdorf and the Marlin fish restaurant. So that he can now concentrate on the Wattkorn. "In the future, I will concentrate on my restaurant Wattkorn on Tangstedter Landstraße. I've been doing that for 15 years and will also take the option to extend the lease for ten or 15 years," said the top chef.

Michael Wollenberg likes to keep his private life to himself. Nevertheless, some things are known about the top chef. A young woman named Melanie has made the chef believe in love again. The two have probably been a couple for more than 15 years. The couple met outdoors during a walk with their dogs Odin and Rüdiger in nearby Raakmoor. Melanie is the daughter of a hunter and now lives with Michael above the restaurant on Tangstedter Landstraße. She also works in a business, which specializes in rustic cuisine of high ecological quality. It is unclear whether the two are still together today and what has become of them. In 2008, however, Wollenberg was sure this could become his first wife, despite already having a 12-year-old daughter.

To learn more about the Hamburg top chef, we would be happy to welcome him soon at Bloggercube. For cool recipes or unique cooking tips, amateurs would have the opportunity to chat together with a star chef.

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