Always willing to reinvent a classic recipe, Chef Christian Schlegel says he loves to feel the adrenaline that comes from experimenting with food. In his catering role for Sodexo at the Berlin Zoo, he thrives on challenges and says that no day is like another. Chef Schlegel grew up in East Germany and spent many happy hours in the kitchen with his grandmother. “Cooking our family recipes made everything feel right,” he says. “She taught me how to be careful and patient.” When he’s in the kitchen, he explores ingredients and spices to create amazing flavors and considers cooking an art. “I like to cross the border between new and old,” says Chef Schlegel. After completing his culinary apprenticeship in the early 2000s, he was a chef at hotels and restaurants in Leipzig and then joined Sodexo more than 10 years ago. Whether managing sites, mobilizing new contracts or piloting projects, Chef Schlegel pores himself into his work and inspires his coworkers to bring their best to the job.