An Interview with Christian Bau An Interview with Christian

MG: Do you fear age?

CB: No, I’m not afraid of it. Of course, as you get older, you become more aware that everything has a certain lifetime limit. You ask yourself: How long do you want to keep doing this so excessively at this level? What if you have a heart attack in the kitchen at 55 and it’s all over? Was it worth it then?

We’ve reached the zenith, that’s all we can do, seven times the highest rating, German Federal Cross of Merit, Honorary Ambassador of Japanese Cuisine, what else is there? I can only quote Harald Wohlfahrt again:

Once you’re at the top, the only way to go is down.

MG: Maybe it goes even further and higher as a mentor of the scene?

CB: Yes, maybe. But there are some copycats who want to profit from it, journalists, even politicians, etc. I don’t know if that would make me happy. Of course I want to cook as long as possible, for financial reasons already, and for the family.

Everything becomes more difficult with age, of course you don’t ask yourself such questions when you’re 35.
Sometimes every bone hurts, and at such times you ask yourself the question of meaning.

MG: Do you have any advice for the coming generation of chefs?

CB: I quote Denzel Washington, who once beautifully said: “As in fashion, music or art, everything has been there before”.
I myself look forward to the day when respect, humility, loyalty, sincerity, honesty and teamwork will return.

MG: That sounds like a good conclusion…

CB: These values have been lost, we started the conversation with the reflection of society, that’s how it should end. Perseverance and humility, that’s what I pass on to the younger generation, the youth just have to accept it. Sometimes these values are even there, but they get lost as soon as you move in a certain society. The modern media are both a gift and a blessing.

If you respect these values, your craft will also improve, you will become a better cook. I have the hope that at some point there will be a “reunion” and people will return to common values. A lot of what is happening in society at the moment is repugnant to me, but I can’t change it because people are like that.

MG: Dear Mr. Bau, thank you for this Interview.