Namibia University of Science And Technology Hotel School

28/09/2026

Congratulations to Our Chef of the Year 2026 Winners!
This year’s competition was a showcase of extraordinary talent, creativity, and culinary passion. We are thrilled to celebrate the chefs who rose to the challenge and wowed us with their skill and artistry.
Your dedication and innovation have set a new standard of excellence, inspiring the next generation of Namibian chefs.
We applaud your achievements and look forward to seeing how you continue to shape the future of food culture in Namibia and beyond.
Here’s to our champions — the stars of the kitchen who made Chef of the Year 2026 unforgettable!
Senior Chefs Category:
3rd Tadiwanashe Namate
2nd Tabea Ashikoto
1st Dagmar Grüner
Junior Chefs Category:
3rd Nelly Cement
2nd Lucky Festus
1st Elwaro Suze

Schools Chefs Category:
3rd Leanne Lombaard
2nd Johannes Haimbangy
1st Cara Kotze

Best Kitchen Practice:
Gregory Elungu

Overall Winner:
Dagmar Grüner

28/09/2026

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Sponsors!

The Chef of the Year 2026 competition was a celebration of culinary excellence, creativity, and passion — and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our sponsors.

Your contributions helped us showcase Namibia’s finest chefs, elevate the competition experience, and inspire the next generation of culinary talent.

We are proud to partner with organizations that believe in innovation, community, and the power of food to bring people together.

Here’s to you — the champions behind the scenes who made this year’s event unforgettable!

27/09/2026

World tourism day celebrations at the NUST Hotelschool in the true spirit of Ubuntu!
Well done for the fantastic team effort from lecturers and students!

15/09/2026

Sjef Dagmar Grüner (middel) is as Namibië se sjef van die jaar gekroon. Elwaro Suze is as junior sjef aangewys en Cara Kotze as die skoolsjef van 2026. Die president van die Namibiese Sjefsvereniging, Kurt Burns, het bevestig dat Grüner se hoogste eerbewys van ’n goue sertifikaat die eerste een is wat in meer as vyf jaar in die kompetisie toegeken is. Saam met haar is sjef Ralf Herrgott (links) en Gerald Cloete van die Namibië Universiteit van Wetenskap en Tegnologie (Nust) se hotelskool.

Foto Iréne-Mari van der Walt

13/09/2026

12/09/2026

Chef Dagmar Grüner has been crowned Namibia's Chef of the Year! Elwaro Suze is crowned as junior chef of the year and Cara Kotze is the School Chef of the year with Grüner taking top honours in the senior category. The president of the Namibian Chefs Association confirms that Grüner's gold certificate is the first one awarded in the competition in more than five years.
Joining chef Dagmar on the photo to the left is chef Ralf Herrgott and Gerald Cloete of the Namibia University of Science and Technology's Hotel School.

10/09/2026