Chef
Benjamin Pfeifer
- Discipline
- Chef
- Based in
- Wachenheim an der Weinstraße, Germany
- Venue
- Intense · Restaurant
i. Biography
He opened Intense in 2017 with his wife Bettina, and the restaurant’s identity has since been built through that partnership. By 2025, and again in 2026, Michelin two-star recognition marked the level of precision, discipline, and consistency that had taken shape there under Benjamin Pfeifer.
The Climb
The Executive Chef role at Intense puts Benjamin Pfeifer at the point where kitchen rhythm and operational control meet. In that position, the work is not just about composing dishes; it is about keeping the whole system aligned so the plate, the pass, and the service floor move with the same intent. His progression reads less like a single breakthrough than like the steady construction of a culinary language that has held up over time.
Today
Executive Chef means the creative and operational identity of Intense runs through Benjamin Pfeifer’s decisions. When that responsibility is working, it shows in service pace, menu coherence, and the balance between ambition and restraint. At Intense, his role is not separate from the restaurant’s character; it is one of the main ways that character is defined and maintained.
Recognition
Benjamin Pfeifer’s honors include Chef of the Year (2025). Taken together, they point to work that was being measured at a high level after years of accumulation, with Intense brought into maturity through repeated refinement rather than quick effect. The Michelin distinction confirmed the restaurant’s precision and consistency, while Chef of the Year (2025) named Pfeifer directly as the chef behind that standard. The two-star recognition there in 2026 extended that same line. Read alongside 2025, it suggests standards that are not simply maintained, but deepened — a restaurant continuing to evolve without losing the center that made the earlier recognition possible.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Benjamin
What is Benjamin Pfeifer's current role?
Benjamin Pfeifer is Executive Chef.
What recognition has Benjamin Pfeifer received?
Chef of the Year (2025).
