The broadcaster ZDF aired this Monday, December 22, 2025, a special edition of the attractionDie Küchenschlacht. Mario Kotaska acted as host and invited professional chefs Alexander Kumptner, Cornelia Poletto, Milena Broger and Maurizio Oster to prepare a Christmas buffet.
The broadcast took place at 2:15 pm local German time. The recipes presented are available for download on the program’s official website.
Viewers were able to watch the preparation of varied dishes with classic and modern influences.
- Maronensuppe with smoked chestnut slice and winter truffle, by Maurizio Oster.
- Shrimp cocktail with curry and clementine, by Cornelia Poletto.
- Gyoza stuffed with duck and red cabbage marinated with raspberries, by Milena Broger.
- Quark cupcakes with egg liqueur cream, by Alexander Kumptner.
- Hot Cinnamon Amaretto, hot drink by Mario Kotaska.
Entrance dishes with sophisticated touches
Maurizio Oster opened the buffet with creamy chestnut soup. Ele incorporated smoked elements into the accompanying slice.
Fresh winter truffle added intense aroma to the dish. Oster highlighted the velvety texture of the soup.
Cornelia Poletto opted for a renewed classic in the shrimp cocktail. The combination of creamy curry and clementine brought balance between sweet and spicy.
The crispy Roman salad completed the presentation.
Asian influences on the festive menu
Milena Broger brought elements of Asian cuisine to the Christmas buffet. Seus gyoza had duck confit filling.
Raspberry-marinated red cabbage offered contrasting acidity. Broger prepared the pasta manually during the attraction.
The combination resulted in intense and harmonious flavors.
Dessert and drink to end the buffet
Alexander Kumptner was responsible for dessert. Ele presented light quark cupcakes rolled in cinnamon sugar.
The egg liqueur cream accompanied the cupcakes along with apple and hazelnut. Kumptner emphasized the fluffy texture of the sweets.
Mario Kotaska finished with a hot drink made from apple juice. The Hot Cinnamon Amaretto had cinnamon, star anise and gingerbread spices.
The drink served as an alcoholic option to accompany the parties.
Special format of the Christmas attraction
Die Küchenschlachtchanges the usual format in year-end themed editions. Instead of competitions between amateurs, professionals collaborate to prepare complete menus.
The December 22nd edition was part of ZDF’s festive programming. Outras similar attractions follow on subsequent days themed after Natal and Réveillon.
The program broadcasts daily at 2:15 pm on regular weeks.
Availability of recipes and reruns
The complete recipes for the dishes shown can be found on the ZDF portal. PDF files allow home reproduction of preparations.
The episode remains accessible on the broadcaster’s mediathek for on-demand viewing.
The attraction attracts audiences interested in culinary ideas for family celebrations.
Experienced participants in television cooking
The guest chefs have experience from German television shows. Cornelia Poletto and Alexander Kumptner regularly serve as judges and presenters.
Milena Broger and Maurizio Oster contribute international approaches. Mario Kotaska runs editions focusing on accessible dishes.
The combination of styles enriched the buffet presented.
Preparations highlighted in the episode
The episode lasted about 45 minutes and showed detailed steps for each dish. The professionals explained specific techniques during preparation.
Seasonal elements such as chestnuts, truffles and Christmas spices predominated. The visual presentation prioritized festive aspects appropriate to the date.
The buffet offered options for different moments of the Christmas dinner.