Jens Rittmeyer leads diners into a completely new world of flavours with his vegetable cuisine. Or rather, into a long-forgotten world of aromatic diversity and richness. For the chef de cuisine of the fine dining restaurant KAI3 at BUDERSAND Hotel – Golf & Spa – Sylt this is the taste of his childhood: natural, fresh, full-bodied and authentic. Jens Rittmeyer has taken this flavour and refined and enhanced it. All of his vegetable dishes are vegan, although he doesn’t exploit the label. His vegetable menu has a simple and honest heading: “My secret passion”. In the second menu at KAI3 called “My Nordic cuisine”, Jens features fish and seafood, the very finest lamb and ox meat.
Jens Rittmeyer was born in Halle an der Saale and his cooking career has included many illustrious kitchens: he worked for Günter Scherrer at the Victorian in Düsseldorf, at Landhaus Köpp in Xanten, and with Dieter Müller at the Schlosshotel Lerbach, Bergisch Gladbach. He then went abroad to learn from the best, including Dieter Koschina at the two Michelin-star restaurant Vila Joya. At the age of 26 he was appointed head chef at the Restaurante Sao Gabriel in Quinta do Lago, where over a period of many years, the Guide Michelin consistently awarded him a star for his work. After a stint at the Berlin Schlosshotel Grunewald, Jens came to Sylt in 2010, took over as chef de cuisine at KAI3 and in 2011 was honoured with a star by the Guide Michelin. That same year he also founded the gourmet event “Festival der Sterne“ – the Festival of Stars.
Describe your culinary philosophy…
Newly interpreted vegetable varieties – from leaf to flower: surprising taste sensations and new creations.
What is your greatest inspiration?
Nature inspires me – and walks at the seaside.
If you could take a plane ride to any restaurant in the world, just for one meal, where would you go?
Narisawa in Tokyo and El Celler de Can Roca in Spain (Girona), orMagnus Nilson in Sweden – not by plane but by SUVJ
What three things would you take to a desert island?
A sharp knife, two spoons and Heidi Klum.
- 1 Michelin star
Am Kai 3
25997 Hörnum (Sylt)
Germany
+49 4651 46070