Bangkok

Breathtaking, unique, spectacular are words that describe the workplace of Mathias and Thomas Sühring. The twins from Berlin presently hold what is probably the world’s highest altitude job of any German citizens. For the past three years, the 33-year-olds have been working as chefs of Mezzaluna Restaurant on the 65th floor of Lebua Hotel in the State Tower of Bangkok: a dazzling 220 metres high.

The duo began their careers with apprenticeships in Berlin luxury hotels. “But, not in the same one,” as Mathias emphasizes with a laugh. In the ensuing years they pursued their careers with great dedication – sometimes together, sometimes apart – moving up to the higher echelons of haute cuisine under three-star chef Sven Elverfeld in Wolfsburg.

How does one go from Volkswagen city to the capital of Thailand? “While Mathias and I were working apart again, he in the Netherlands and I in Rome, I received an invitation to a sort of promotional week held by the Lebua, during which a different chef would take over the kitchen every evening,” recounts Thomas. He attended with a colleague and about six months later, the call from Bangkok came. “I replied to them that I’d like to come, but not without my brother,” Thomas confesses. His potential employers were at first astonished by the chef duo, but also fascinated.

There is only one minor letdown: Bangkok is presently “unstarred” so a knighthood with one or more Michelin stars is – as yet – impossible. Besides a few European cities, the well-known gourmet guidebook covers only a few worldwide cities: New York, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Macao and Tokyo. “Bangkok certainly has the potential for an edition of the guide,” Mathias is sure, but quickly adds, “one or more stars are not imperative for us, but to see our guests leave the restaurant happy.” Michelin stars would be an added bonus.

Do the twins have a competitive relationship or that typical twins’ aspiration for independence? “With us it’s more that we push each other and help move each other ahead,” Thomas estimates. At any rate, his penchant for Italian cuisine and Mathias’s for seafood and meat fit together very well and differences of opinion are dealt with coolly. How long does the Sühring duo plan to stay in Bangkok? “We really like it here; the job is fulfilling and we like working together,” says Mathias. Generally, they claim they are open to new things and will wait and see what the near future brings and whether their work will put them back down at sea level.