The traditional one Hotel Stefanie, Vienna's oldest hotel, has Wolfgang Gumhalter as the new head chef of his eponymous restaurant. Gumhalter, who has been working for Schick Hotels Group will take over the management of an 18-person team. He will lead the culinary offerings of the establishment, founded in 1600, into the future. His long-time companion Dennis Nikolic will assist him as sous chef.
Peter Buocz, the hotel's General Manager, expressed his pride at the appointment. He praised Gumhalter's commitment to quality and emphasized that promoting long-standing employees is an important part of the company's philosophy. The new management team, led by Gumhalter and Nikolic, will combine the hotel's culinary tradition with innovative touches and optimize internal processes. Gumhalter himself expressed his anticipation of leading the restaurant with a blend of authentic Viennese cuisine and fresh inspiration, and of turning Viennese residents into regulars.
The restaurant “Stefanie” is known for its classic Viennese cuisine, which Gumhalter now reinterprets in a contemporary way. One example is the so-called "Altwiener Schmankerlreise," a seven-course menu that tells the history of Vienna through culinary means. Gumhalter also aims to accommodate modern dietary habits and food intolerances, for example by offering vegetarian versions of the dishes. In addition to à la carte dishes, the restaurant also offers a Sunday brunch and a lunch buffet.
Gumhalter began his career in the Schick Hotels Group as a junior chef in the sister hotel Archduke Rainer In 2010, he moved to the Hotel Stefanie, where he held various positions, most recently as sous chef. His sous chef, Dennis Nikolic, has been with the hotel since 2017 and has worked closely with Gumhalter for several years. The Schick Hotels Group, a Viennese family business, has existed for five generations and operates five four-star hotels in the Austrian capital.