OUR AMBASSADORS
Our ambassadors shape ISSHO TABERU in a special way. They work daily in top-tier gastronomy and know exactly what matters in the kitchen. Their experience flows directly into our work and helps us create knives that are not only manufactured in Japan but also prove themselves in the demanding everyday kitchen in Europe.
What connects us is more than a partnership. It's a shared commitment to quality, precision, and genuine craftsmanship. On this page, you'll meet the chefs who accompany and help shape ISSHO TABERU, and who entrust our knives with their work every day.
DOMINIK HARTMAN
MAGDALENA, SCHWYZ CH | 18 Gault & Millau points | 2 Michelin stars
Dominik Hartmann shapes the Restaurant Magdalena in Schwyz with a precise, modern, and product-focused cuisine at the highest level. With 18 Gault & Millau points and 2 Michelin stars, he is one of the defining voices in Swiss haute cuisine.
Dominik Hartmann holds a special significance for ISSHO TABERU. He was the first top chef to test our knives from the very beginning and one of the most important supporters in the brand's early stages. His positive feedback was crucial in ISSHO TABERU getting started at all.
PATRICK MAHLER
focus ATELIER, VITZNAU CH | 18 Gault & Millau points | 2 Michelin Stars
Patrick Mahler stands in the focus Atelier in Vitznau for a cuisine that combines precision, concentration, and technical flawlessness at the highest level. With 18 Gault & Millau points and 2 Michelin stars, he has been one of the most distinguished chefs in Swiss fine dining for years.
Patrick Mahler was also a key supporter of ISSHO TABERU in its early days. His enthusiasm for our knives led him to introduce us to many other chefs at his Kitchen Party at the focus Atelier. This early support significantly helped ISSHO TABERU gain visibility in fine dining.
MARCO CAMPANELLA
LA BREZZA, ASCONA & AROSA CH | 19 Gault & Millau points | 2 Michelin stars
With La Brezza in Arosa and Ascona, Marco Campanella stands for modern haute cuisine with a distinctive style, high precision, and a strong focus on products. With 19 Gault & Millau points and 2 Michelin stars, he is among Switzerland's most outstanding chefs.
ISSHO TABERU enjoys a close and creative partnership with Marco Campanella. Together, we developed a knife according to his specifications, fitting his award as Chef of the Year 2025. Furthermore, we traveled with him to Japan, where we visited, among others, Toshiki Nanbu. This collaborative development and direct exchange make the connection particularly strong.
CHRISTOPH RAINER
IKIGAI, GRÜN DE | 5 Toques Gault & Millau | 2 Michelin Stars
At Schloss Elmau's Ikigai, Christoph Rainer offers a cuisine that combines Japanese inspiration with the highest standards of fine dining. Precision, clarity, and respect for ingredients and technique distinctively define his work.
Precisely for this reason, the connection to ISSHO TABERU is very natural. Christoph Rainer appreciates knife series with strong Japanese ties and shares with us a common understanding of culture, mentality, and artisanal precision. This closeness makes him a particularly credible ambassador for our brand.
SILVIO GERMANN
MAMMERTSBERG, FREIDORF CH | 18 Gault & Millau Points | 2 Michelin Stars
Silvio Germann is one of Switzerland's leading chefs and stands for precise, elegant, and contemporary haute cuisine at Mammertsberg. With 18 Gault & Millau points and 2 Michelin stars, he combines technical clarity with great consistency in his daily work.
He is connected to ISSHO TABERU not only through his daily work with our knives in the kitchen, but also through their joint presence at selected partnerships and events. Together with Marco Campanella, he is part of our collaboration with Mercedes Benz, including the culinary tour. This makes the partnership visible outside the kitchen as well.
RETO BRÄNDLI
ECCO, ASCONA CH | 18 Gault & Millau points | 2 Michelin stars
Reto Brändli brings extensive experience from top gastronomy and today stands for utmost precision and culinary excellence at ECCO Ascona in Ticino. As a Swiss with roots in the canton of Schwyz, he combines international experience with a very personal connection to ISSHO TABERU's home.
It is precisely this personal connection that makes our collaboration particularly special. We are delighted that Reto Brändli is back in Switzerland after his time abroad and is now also part of ISSHO TABERU as an ambassador. His return and his connection to Central Switzerland give the partnership a special closeness.
PASCAL STEFFEN
roots, BASEL CH | 18 Gault & Millau points | 2 Michelin stars
Pascal Steffen shapes the roots in Basel with a distinctive, precise, and very clear cuisine. With 18 Gault & Millau points and 2 Michelin stars, he is one of the most important voices in young Swiss fine dining.
ISSHO TABERU shares a long-standing relationship with Pascal Steffen. We traveled to Japan with him and visited, among others, Murakami Fumio, the specialist for the Gyuto line. Furthermore, joint events with Porsche are also created with him, which shapes this partnership far beyond the kitchen.
Benoît Carcenat
18 Gault & Millau Points | 2 Michelin Stars
Benoît Carcenat is an important voice in fine dining in Western Switzerland. With 18 Gault & Millau points and 2 Michelin stars, his cuisine stands for creativity, precision, and a clear, distinctive style.
For ISSHO TABERU, Benoît Carcenat is a key ambassador in Romandy. We are therefore all the more delighted to be able to accompany him from the very beginning at his new restaurant in the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace. This joint development in a new location makes the partnership particularly exciting.
NICOLAI WIEDMER
ECKERT, GRENZNACH DE | 3 Gault & Millau Toques | 1 Michelin Star
Nicolai Wiedmer stands for precise, modern cuisine and gives ISSHO TABERU a strong presence even in the German border region. His work combines professionalism with a clear sense of quality and contemporary communication.
For ISSHO TABERU, he is an important supporter in the Basel region and beyond. He frequently accompanies our brand at Kitchen Parties, contributes valuable insights, and also supports ISSHO TABERU on Instagram with a strong presence and genuine conviction. As a result, the partnership is visible not only in the kitchen but also digitally.