When once a year in the great mirror palace

With 140 chandeliers – celebrities act as waiters, they do so at the dinner show "Palazzo" by celebrity chef Cornelia Poletto; and all for a good cause.

The net proceeds from the evening will go to the “Airport” at the Altona Children’s Hospital (AKK), a facility comprising an intensive care unit and residential area for children and adolescents on long-term ventilation, which is unique in Germany.

This time, the donation will be used for excursions with the young patients, including trips to the planetarium, tropical aquarium, children's theater, or an alpaca farm.

"As a mother, I empathize with these issues," said former professional boxer Ina Menzer. Her daughters, ages six and four, are familiar with her at home in the kitchen – similar to the Chaity campaign, where everyone wore a floral or polka-dotted aprons at the stove. Ina Menzer gained experience in the restaurant industry as a student in Mönchengladbach in 2001. At the time, she worked at a Greek snack bar.

"However, I realized it wasn't the right job for me." Memorizing the dishes and cashing in quickly were qualities that pushed her to her limits. "Since then, I've appreciated jobs in the industry more," said the athlete. Rolf Zuckowski learned many a service trick from his father. "He was a steward on cargo ships and, especially in rough seas, had to make sure everything stayed in its place while clearing the tables," the musician explained.

One trick is to cross the knives under the curve of the fork. However, the songwriter rarely spends time at the stove. He traditionally leaves that to his wife – although he occasionally sings with them in the kitchen. Julia Kretschmer-Wachsmann also takes care of the cooking in her private life.

“Especially since we had children, I try to create nutritious and regional dishes,” she said.

This evening, it was not just about serving the four-course meal with salad, soup, two kinds of beef and dessert to the guests without any mistakes, but also about having fun.

"Just follow your colleagues. It'll all be relaxed," the restaurant manager promised during the introduction. However, some celebrities' feet may have been sore afterward—a service employee walks about 14 kilometers per performance.