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MICHELIN-starred Restaurants & Luxury Hotels

Gastronomy Consulting

Ingo Hettig advises fine dining restaurants and luxury hotel F&B outlets internationally — on-site, with a method developed over 30 years as a guest of the world's best restaurants, and 7+ years of consulting practice at the highest level of gastronomy.

My approach supports the restaurant and its teams in developing independently — to reach the next level, or to secure the one already achieved.

Clients: MICHELIN-starred restaurants, restaurants targeting recognition, luxury hotel F&B outlets (casual dining & fine dining)
Geography: Internationally, on-site consultations
Confidentiality: All client names strictly protected, except for reference clients
References: Available on request — one, two and three MICHELIN Star restaurants
Method

The Consulting Approach

I

Guest Perspective First

Every engagement begins with an incognito test dinner — experiencing the restaurant exactly as a guest would. No prior knowledge, no compromises. The guest’s perspective is the most honest data point available.

II

360° Feedback

Self-assessment by the team versus external evaluation by Ingo Hettig. The gap between these two perspectives is where the real work happens — and where the greatest potential for development lies.

III

Participatory Workshops

Results are developed together with kitchen and service teams — not handed down. This creates genuine understanding, shared ownership, and sustainable implementation.

Testimonials

What Clients Say

“In a world where gastronomy is becoming ever more complex, Ingo Hettig stands out for his ability to unite analytical precision with an intuitive understanding of culinary excellence. His perspective is sharp, his passion genuine...precisely what haute cuisine needs today.”
Werner Loens
Former Director of the MICHELIN GUIDE for Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands
Context
Confidential reference conversations with clients are available on request.
“The cooperation with Ingo Hettig at the optimization workshop with 7 young chef talents in Tallinn was enriching for me in every respect. He convinces not only by his high professionalism, his clear eye for reality and his sense of detail, but also humanly by a very pleasant, appreciative nature - I appreciated the cooperation very much and would be happy at any time to repeat such a project with him.”
Matthias Diether
Two MICHELIN Star restaurant 180°, Tallinn, Estonia
Context
Confidential reference conversations with clients are available on request.
“Ingo has accompanied and brought us forward from the beginning with his passion for gastronomy, his trained eye and his honest analysis - and always with an open, uncomplicated way with which he reaches people and really takes teams with him. His support – from concrete tips to intensive workshops – was a decisive building block on our way to two MICHELIN Stars and still gives us clear impulses on how we can continue to improve.”
Manuel Ulrich
Two MICHELIN Star Restaurant ÖSCH NOIR, at 5 Star Luxury Hotel DER ÖSCHBERGHOF, Donaueschingen, Germany
Context
Confidential reference conversations with clients are available on request.
“The workshop created clear and lasting value for participants, who highlighted the practical application of MICHELIN evaluation criteria, systematic quality control, and the importance of consistency at every stage of the guest experience. We appreciate highly to reminder that consistent, well-thought-out and meaningful marketing is as important as the quality of the food served, which must be high throughout the season. We, in Visit Tallinn, especially valued Ingo Hettig’s ability to translate excellence into concrete tools and mindsets that chefs and restaurant teams can immediately apply in their daily operations. ”
Hele Lõhmus
Tallinn Strategic Management Office, VISIT TALLINN, Tallinn, Estonia
Context
Confidential reference conversations with clients are available on request.
“Ingo challenged our thinking and helped us see beyond our own assumptions. His direct approach and broad international experience make him exceptionally effective at stress-testing ideas and uncovering real opportunities.”
Airis Zapašnikas
One MICHELIN Star restaurant SABI OMAKASE, Oslo, Norway
Context
Confidential reference conversations with clients are available on request.
“Working with Ingo Hettig was a truly transformative experience for our team, combining outstanding expertise with a clear and effective methodology. His international experience and inspiring guidance delivered immense value, equipping us with actionable insights to refine and elevate our culinary concept.”
Jenő Rácz
One MICHELIN Star restaurant RUMOUR, Budapest, Hungary
Context
Confidential reference conversations with clients are available on request.
“Working with Ingo Hettig brought immediate clarity and structure to our F&B operations, resulting in measurable improvements in both team performance and guest experience. His hands-on approach and sharp analytical insight created lasting value for NONI well beyond the initial engagement.”
Jonathan Brincat
One MICHELIN Star restaurant NONI, Valetta, Malta
Context
Confidential reference conversations with clients are available on request.
“Our collaboration with Ingo was intense and highly successful, marked by mutual respect, active listening, and constructive dialogue. We gained valuable insights together, and the impressive results reflect our shared journey—thank you, Ingo, for your inspiring dedication!”
Klaus Buderath, Benedict Wittek, Marian Schneider
One MICHELIN Star restaurant SEESTERN, Gastroevents Ulm, Germany
Context
Confidential reference conversations with clients are available on request.
“As part of a joint workshop, Ingo Hettig gave valuable impulses for our social media communication around the es:senz.”
Edip Sigl
Three MICHELIN Star restaurant ES:SENZ, at 5 Star Luxury Resort DAS ACHENTAL, Grassau im Chiemgau, Germany
Context
Confidential reference conversations with clients are available on request.
“We thank Ingo for his valuable and well-founded support in the field of Social Media and PR. He rubbed salt in the wounds and gave us extremely solution-oriented approaches through his honesty, his know-how and his network. Even today we benefit from our cooperation and look forward to the future together.”
David Breuer
Executive Assistant Manager I/C of F&B, Two MICHELIN Star Restaurant ÖSCH NOIR, at 5 Star Luxury Hotel DER ÖSCHBERGHOF, Donaueschingen, Germany
Context
Confidential reference conversations with clients are available on request.
Services

Three Consulting Services

Service I

Test Dinner, Analysis & Team Workshop, F&B Performance

On-Site · 1–2 Days

The complete experience: incognito test dinner, followed by a comprehensive written analysis and a team workshop up to 4-6 hours. The result is an actionable report with specific recommendations across all evaluation categories.

  • Incognito test dinner
  • Analysis: Food (Five MICHELIN GUIDE Criteria), Beverage, Guest Experience, Ambience and Feel-good Factors
  • Food Journey evaluation — scoring per course
  • Team workshop: self-assessment vs. external review
  • Written report with prioritised optimization measures
Service II

Business Consulting

Financial · Operations

Profitability and operational analysis for fine dining restaurants. From P&L review to „Customer Journey“ process design. For restaurants that want to be excellent — and financially sustainable.

  • Profitability analysis (P&L, F&B calculation, occupancy)
  • Revenue per guest optimisation
  • Process analysis: reservation-to-guest review
  • Business plan development for new concepts for investors, owners and banks
  • SWOT analysis and strategic concept development
Service III

Social Media Consulting

Instagram · Positioning

With over 400,000 followers as on the different social media platforms, Ingo Hettig understands social media communication much better than usual consultants in fine dining. Strategy, content development, and campaign execution for restaurants that want to be seen nationally and internationally.

  • Social media strategy and content plan
  • Positioning and USP development
  • Campaign development for reach and occupancy growth
  • KPI definition and measurement framework
  • Coaching and hands-on training for in-house social media teams
How It Works

From First Contact to Results

1
Initial Call
Brief introduction, understanding of vision, goals and current situation
2
Test Dinner
Incognito visit — the team does not know the actual reason for Ingo's visit
3
Analysis
Comprehensive evaluation across all categories, scored against five MICHELIN GUIDE Criteria
4
Team Workshop
Half-day session with kitchen and service — results developed together
5
Optimization Workshops
One day active optimization workshop before the dishes are officially added to the new seasonal menu
Scope of Work

Typical Questions Addressed

F&B Performance

In which areas must kitchen performance improve to reach one, two or three MICHELIN Stars in the future?
How do other successful one, two and three MICHELIN Stars restaurants operate — and what can we learn from them?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the beverage offering and pairing?
How does the service team perform across the full guest journey — from guest’s arrival to farewell?

Profitability

Is the restaurant economically sustainable at its current level and concept?
How would the restaurant need to be run if it operated without hotel or investor backing?
Are there days with low occupancy? What levers exist to improve it?
How can revenue and cross margin be increased per guest?

Marketing and Positioning

What are the restaurant USPs and how should they be communicated?
What are the levers for becoming better known nationally and internationally?
How should Instagram, TikTok and press be used to build the restaurant brand?

Guest Satisfaction

How is the restaurant perceived on review platforms and how does it compare to competitors?
What does the full customer journey look like, from reservation to post-visit review?
How do we turn first-time guets into regular guest, who are the most important profitability factor in a restaurant?

Working at the top of gastronomy requires absolute discretion. Only customer names and project details that have been expressly approved will be disclosed publicly. If you are considering a collaboration, reference conversations with clients in one, two and three MICHELIN-Star restaurants are available on request.

Next Step

Ready to talk about your culinary visons and goals?

Direct Contactmail@ingohettig.com
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