Bergische Genusstage — Grand Opening Bergisch Gladbach

Bergische Genusstage 2026 — Five Years of Stars Above the Bergisches Land

The Bergische Genusstage celebrate their 5th anniversary in 2026 — and the organizers are going all out. On Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 6:30 PM to 11:45 PM, the Grand Opening will launch the festival week with a top-class gala: a 6-course menu by Michelin-starred chef Nelson Müller, at the Relais & Châteaux Landhotel Diepeschrather Mühle in Bergisch Gladbach, featuring champagne, caviar, oysters, wine pairing, and live jazz.

Nelson Müller — The Soulfood Star Chef

Nelson Müller is one of Germany's most famous top chefs — with TV appearances on ZDF ("Die Küchenschlacht", "Marktcheck") and a Michelin star at his Essen restaurant "Schote". For the Grand Opening in Bergisch Gladbach, he reinterprets the regional Bergische cuisine — which he calls "Bergische Soulfood Cuisine" — at the highest level: 6 courses that rethink regional classics like the Bergische Kaffeetafel (coffee table spread), Reibekuchen (potato pancakes), and Pflaume (plum) and combine them with international techniques.

6-Course Menu with Pairing

The menu combines local ingredients from the Bergisches Land with a top-tier pairing:

• Laurent-Perrier Champagne Reception upon arrival
• Oyster Service with sommelier advice
• Caviar Tasting as an intermediate course
• 6 Courses from Nelson Müller's "Bergische Soulfood Cuisine"
• Wine Pairing with Weingut Neumeister (Styria/Austria, organic wines)
• Mineral water and non-alcoholic pairings available

Live Music and Regional Market

The musical accompaniment is provided by Mo Peacock with a live jazz set, making the evening a holistic experience. Before and after the menu, a small Regional Market of the Bergische Genusstage invites guests to meet local producers — dairies, apiaries, distilleries, and manufactories from the Bergisches Land will present their specialties.

Relais & Châteaux Landhotel Diepeschrather Mühle

The Landhotel Diepeschrather Mühle is one of the top hotels in the Bergisches Land — a member of the worldwide luxury hotel association Relais & Châteaux. The former watermill in the middle of the Bergischer Wald forest combines historic architecture, manicured gardens, and high-end gastronomy. For the gala, the hotel's restaurant will be transformed into a festive banquet hall.

Bergische Genusstage 2026 — Six Events in One Week

The Grand Opening is the kick-off for the Bergische Genusstage 2026, which will bring together six events in various locations in the region from October 24 to November 1. A brief overview:

• Oct 24 — Grand Opening in Bergisch Gladbach (Nelson Müller, €299)
• Oct 25 — Champagne 4-Hand Lunch in Schildgen, Restaurant Der Hof, with Marius Sprenger and Philipp Vogel (€299)
• Oct 28 — Bergische Idylle at Restaurant Mohn, 5 courses (€189)
• Oct 29 — Honest/Authentic/Bergisch at Restaurant Eimermacher (€159)
• Oct 30 — Gala "Stars Above Bergisch Land" with the Wilbrand brothers (€259)
• Oct 31 — Bergisches Mühlenmenü at Café & Restaurant Rausmühle (€149)
• Nov 1 — Grande Finale at the Cathedral in Altenberger Hof, 5-course lunch (€199)

Bergisches Land — The Region as Host

The Bergisches Land stretches east of the Rhine between Cologne, Wuppertal, and Siegen — a hilly low mountain range landscape with characteristic black-and-white half-timbered houses, dams, forests, and a distinct culinary culture. Bergische Kaffeetafel, Reibekuchen, Pillekuchen, Bergischer Schwarzwälder Schinken (ham) — the regional cuisine is unique, hearty, and diverse. Bergisch Gladbach, in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis district, is the largest city in the region with around 112,000 inhabitants and home to important top restaurants.