Culinary début at Kempinski Palace Engelberg

Engelberg, 16 January 2026 – Kempinski Palace Engelberg welcomes the new year with an exceptional culinary offering: Executive Chef Stefanos Ioannidis unveils his new Alpine–Mediterranean menu at Cattani Restaurant. The 35-year-old Greek chef, who assumed the role of Executive Chef at the Engelberg Grand Hotel in August 2025, delivers an impressive culinary debut.

A personal culinary journey
Ioannidis’ Alpine–Mediterranean menu represents a culinary narrative drawn from his life and professional journey. Each dish captures moments from his upbringing in Greece and his decade of experience in Switzerland. Having refined his craft under celebrated chefs such as Swiss master Dietmar Sawyere and Israeli chef Gilad Peled, Ioannidis has developed both a profound appreciation for exceptional Swiss ingredients and technical expertise. ‘Each of my dishes tells a story and is designed to create lasting memories for our guests,’ explains the Executive Chef.

Signature dishes honouring Greek roots
Among his signature creations is a reinterpretation of a beloved childhood dish – beetroot salad with goat’s cheese and walnuts – originally prepared by his mother. Ioannidis now crafts this dish using premium Swiss ingredients, presenting beetroot atop Chälä-Rugeli, a fresh goat’s cheese from Nidwalden, enriched with Greek oak honey. This thoughtful balance of vibrant Mediterranean flavours and Swiss craftsmanship is a defining feature throughout the new menu. Starters include ‘fava,’ a traditional Greek yellow pea purée, and ‘skordopsomo,’ a garlic bread typically found at Greek family celebrations. At Cattani Restaurant, it is reimagined using five varieties of regional alpine cheese, offering an elevated perspective on a beloved classic.

Seafood inspirations: Monkfish fricassee and signature towers
Having grown up along the Mediterranean coast, Stefanos Ioannidis showcases his affinity for seafood. Highlights on the menu now include a monkfish fricassee accented with wild herbs, onion, dill and pickled lemon, a dish inspired by his grandmother’s cooking on days when his grandfather returned from sea. Guests may also enjoy a seafood tower or freshly made pappardelle with lobster, shrimp, cherry tomatoes and sea asparagus. These offerings further reflect Ioannidis’ ability to infuse the menu at Kempinski Palace Engelberg with deeply personal and expertly curated culinary experiences.

A new chapter for Cattani built on creative trust
The introduction of Stefanos Ioannidis’ menu marks a key development in the culinary direction of Kempinski Palace Engelberg. General Manager Andreas Magnus fosters an environment of creative trust, allowing the Executive Chef full freedom to express his distinctive vision. This commitment affirms the hotel’s dedication to delivering both genuine hospitality and exceptional culinary artistry. With an instinctive ability to merge tradition with innovation, emotion with technique and heritage with discovery, Stefanos Ioannidis crafts an unforgettable gastronomic journey.

The new menu by Stefanos Ioannidis is now available at Cattani Restaurant at Kempinski Palace
Engelberg. For enquiries and table reservations, please contact +41 41 639 75 30 or email
[email protected].

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About Kempinski Palace Engelberg 
Raw luxury - the new Kempinski Palace Engelberg is located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, not far from Lucerne (www.kempinski.com/engelberg). After five full years of construction, the palatial building high up in the mountains was re-opened in June 2021 and re-interpreted for the next generation as a unique hotel reminiscent of the Belle Epoque era. In harmony with nature, history and the modern era, the building is something truly special in its environment. As the first and only international five-star superior hotel in the largest winter and summer holiday destination of Central Switzerland, Kempinski Palace Engelberg is a retreat for all seasons. The historical building was famous far beyond the borders of Switzerland as far back as more than one hundred years ago when successful Engelberg hotelier, Eduard Cattani (1841 – 1908), commissioned his brother, architect Arnold Cattani (1846 – 1921), to design and realise the hotel. In 1904, it opened under the name of Grandhotel Winterhaus thereby setting the cornerstone for today’s building. After extensive renovations and combined with the new five-story hotel, it now forms one perfect architectural unit. The 129 rooms and suites feature state-of-the-art facilities and offer a unique view of the breathtaking mountain landscape. Culinary variety is provided by the Cattani Restaurant which offers a brasserie concept, The Palace Bar with its Habanos Cigar Lounge, the Wintergarden, and, in the winter, the cosy Chalet Ruinart. An unparalleled, round 880 sqm rooftop spa with an infinity pool and a panoramic view of the mountains, a Kids Club and a modern events area with nine rooms as well as an entertainment area, the listed Kursaal*, for up to 1000 guests round off the varied offering. The hotel is easily reached year-round by car, train or via a 75-minute drive from Zurich Airport.  

About Kempinski
Created in 1897, Kempinski Hotels is Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group. Kempinski’s rich heritage of impeccable personal service and superb hospitality is complemented by the exclusivity and individuality of its properties. Today the Kempinski Group operates 75 hotels and residences in 33 countries and currently has more than 25 prestigious projects under development around the globe. Each five-star hotel reflects the strength and success of the Kempinski brand without losing sight of its heritage; each one imbues the quality guests have come to expect from Kempinski while embracing the cultural traditions of its location. The portfolio comprises historic landmark properties, award-winning urban lifestyle hotels, outstanding resorts and prestigious residences. Kempinski is a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands.  

kempinski.com/engelberg · kempinski.com · www.ghadiscovery.com 

* The Kursaal is managed by Kursaal AG Engelberg (www.kursaalengelberg.ch). This company is not part of Kempinski Palace Engelberg – Titlis Swiss Alps. 

Media Contact: 

Kempinski Palace Engelberg – Titlis Swiss Alps 
Daniela Stanger · Cluster Assistant Marketing Manager  
Kempinski Palace Engelberg – Titlis Swiss Alps 
Dorfstrasse 40 · 6390 Engelberg · Switzerland 
T +41 41 556 40 58 · [email protected]

KRAMER+CREATIVES
Eva Kramer
+41 78 735 1978 
[email protected] 
www.kramercreatives.com