TV chef Johann Lafer (61) has closed his Michelin-starred restaurant “Val d’or” on the current castle in the Hunsrück. He said in an Interview with the “süddeutsche Zeitung” (Wednesday). “I want to be closer to people and making me a stronger focus, on what was always important to me: sustainable products, good workmanship and an unpretentious Service.” Most of his activities, he will lead anyway – for example, his cooking school, the cook in the television or magazine.

The “Val d’or” in Bingen in Rhineland-Palatinate, the Lafer operating since 1994 with his wife, had been honoured by the Guide Michelin with a star.

On the question of whether a star is a forced to, answered Lafer: “In a certain way. In the star kitchen play, every decoration down to the smallest Detail, and extremely high quality ingredients are essential.“ In addition, such ingredients are organizing on becoming more and more difficult to be reasonable and sustainable, he said: “When I think alone to the sea to fish: Where do they come from because, in quality, the top restaurants you need?”

star kitchen is always a huge effort – “and to no longer engage in these efforts, ultimately, for a small area in our company, I would like to,” said the Austrian.