Indonesia's Gastronomy Diplomacy Greets Three-Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Germany

The aroma of Indonesian archipelago spices once again fills the kitchen of one of Germany's most prestigious restaurants. Through the Restaurant Takeover program, Indonesia brings its homeland culinary heritage to Schwarzwaldstube, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant located at Hotel Traube Tonbach in Germany's Black Forest region.

Chef Degan Septoadji will once again lead the team for this Indonesian culinary promotion mission, running 5–10 August 2026. The five-member team travelling from Jakarta includes Chef Theo (Setyo Widhyarto), Chef Norman Ismail, Chef Mili Hendratno, and Nike Kurnia as the program host.

Over the six-day program, Indonesian gastronomy will be presented not only through a series of gala dinners, but also cooking classes that invite guests to become closely acquainted with each dish and the cultural stories behind them.

This initiative forms part of Indonesia's ongoing efforts to strengthen its gastronomic diplomacy.

This collaboration with Schwarzwaldstube creates opportunity for Indonesian cuisine to gain recognition on the international culinary stage.

Bringing Stories of the Archipelago to the Black Forest

This year's Restaurant Takeover concept continues to prioritise an immersive dining experience integrated with cultural storytelling.

Across four gala dinner evenings, guests will be guided on a journey through flavours from all across Indonesia via the dishes prepared by Chef Degan.

Beyond simply enjoying the food, guests will also be invited to understand the stories embedded within every recipe and ingredient.

Through this approach, food serves as a gateway to discover Indonesia's rich cultural diversity.

Alongside the gala dinners, two cooking class sessions will be held. Participants will learn hands-on how to prepare Indonesian dishes, extending the Indonesian culinary experience beyond just the restaurant table.

Chef Degan expressed deep gratitude for the chance to once again bring the diverse flavours of Indonesia to the Black Forest. He views this opportunity as one step in a long journey to introduce Indonesia's culinary wealth to the world.

"This year is special. Not only are we serving dishes, but we are also continuing to pave the way for young Indonesian chefs to gain first-hand experience performing on an international culinary stage of Traube Tonbach's calibre," stated Chef Degan.

More Than Just A Culinary Promotion

As an established senior culinary leader with nearly four decades of dedicated service, Chef Degan holds a clear vision to pass the torch to the next generation of Indonesian chefs.

Every culinary promotion mission he leads is not only intended to introduce Indonesia's gastronomic heritage to the world, but also serves as a learning platform and regeneration pipeline for emerging chefs.

This year's mission brings together senior Indonesian chefs, cross-generational culinary talent, and four Indonesian chefs currently building their careers in Germany for this collaborative project.

Gaining work experience in a world-class culinary environment is expected to broaden perspectives and prepare Indonesian chefs to compete on the global stage.

This effort demonstrates that gastronomic diplomacy goes far beyond simply introducing food.

Cuisine can also act as a space to build professional networks, exchange knowledge, and bring different cultures together.