He came last October, got two stars in the Michelin Guide and four toques in the Gault&Millau in record time – and is now practically gone. Max Natmessnig, 35, Chef of the Year in Austria 2022, was an almost sensational replacement for the position of chef de cuisine in the gourmet restaurant Alois of the delicatessen Dallmayr last year. With a similar bang, however, he says goodbye again.
On Thursday afternoon, Dallmayr announced that Natmessnig would be leaving the fine dining restaurant “at his own request” at the end of September. He and his wife Bekah Roberts-Natmessnig, who is the restaurant manager at Alois, wanted to take on new professional challenges. “We very much regret the departure and wish both of them the best for their next professional post abroad,” said Florian Randlkofer, Managing Partner of Dallmayr. All too often Natmessnig should no longer be at the stove in Dienerstrasse; the restaurant goes on a two-month summer break on July 30th. After that, the Natmessnigs would nominally only be on duty for four weeks.
The press release does not reveal where the journey will take her. It is very likely that the new task will be found in the USA. Bekah Roberts-Natmessnig is American, they met in New York and Natmessnig worked there with three-star chefs Daniel Humm and César Ramirez.
It should be announced in autumn who will lead the Alois’ team in the future. On an interim basis, Miguel Marques, Natmessnig’s sous-chef, will take over the management of the kitchen. Julien Morlat, sommelier and restaurant manager, will remain with the house.