Paula Bründl

At 15, I set out on an adventure to the United States, and by 18, I found myself in Colombia. These travels broadened my horizons, but also made me realize just how much home meant to me, especially when it came to food. No matter where I was, the one thing I longed for most was the taste of my mother’s cooking—the flavors of my childhood. In those meals, I found comfort, identity, and a sense of home. They weren’t just food; they were a reminder of where I came from,  full of authenticity and warmth.

It was during my time studying psychology in Vienna that fate intervened. The first C- lockdown hit, and while the world slowed down, something sparked inside me. With time to reflect, I found myself drawn back to the kitchen, where a long-buried passion for cooking emerged. Before I knew it, I was on two cooking shows—"Die Küchenschlacht" and "The Taste." To my surprise, I won "The Taste," and it was a wake-up call: this wasn’t just a hobby anymore, it was my true calling. From there, my journey as a professional chef began. I apprenticed at Steirereck in Vienna and later trained under Phillip Rachinger at Mühltalhof. It was a transformative time, and though it felt like a whirlwind, every step reinforced that I was on the right path.

For me, food is more than just sustenance—it’s a way of life. There’s a kind of magic in honest, authentic cooking that connects us to something bigger. It’s not about being flashy or trendy; it’s about respecting the ingredients, the traditions, and the stories behind every dish. Food has the power to bring us closer to nature, to remind us of our roots, and to shape how we live. Are we mindlessly consuming, or are we savoring life with intention, appreciating the flavors, the moments, and the connections that food creates?

I believe that the more we engage with food—cooking it, tasting it, sharing it—the richer our lives become. That’s why I’m so passionate about what I do. I want to inspire others to embrace the joy of cooking, to appreciate the beauty in simplicity, and to experience the fulfillment that comes from a life well-fed, in every sense of the word. This journey has only just begun, and I can't wait to see where it leads.