When Toni Mörwald reaches for the Gattino – Alexander & Christian on the TV success at OE24

Bianca: It’s the talk of the Austrian culinary scene right now: The cooking show “Mörwald kocht” on OE24 is heavily relying on co-branded products from Gattino and austriavital. Today we’re talking to Alexander Varvaressos (founder of Kalophagas) and Christian Raunjak (austriavital) about the background of this collaboration.

Alexander: It’s an incredible confirmation. Toni Mörwald is synonymous with Austrian haute cuisine. The fact that he uses our olive oils and special balsamic vinegars – mango, date and fig – live on TV shows that we have hit the mark.

Christian: Absolutely, Alexander. Our motivation was clear from the start: We wanted to create products that not only look good on the shelf, but also pass the “stress test” in a professional kitchen. When you see how Toni finishes a dish with our mango balsamic vinegar, you know: This is world-class quality.

Bianca: How did this collaboration come about and what was the biggest challenge?

Alexander: The challenge was to develop products that support the complexity of Mörwald’s cooking, but remain easy for viewers to recreate at home. The motivation was the “co-branding” concept between Gattino and Austriavital. We wanted to combine the strength of both brands.

Christian: Exactly. The success proves us right. Since the show started, interest in fruity varieties like date and fig balsamic vinegar has increased dramatically. People see on television how easy it can be to turn a standard dish into a gourmet meal if the base – the olive oil and vinegar – is right.

Bianca: Was there a special moment in the show that made you particularly proud?

Alexander: For me, it was the episode in which Toni Mörwald used our olive oil not only for frying, but also as a finishing element. He described the aromas so precisely – that’s when I knew: He understands our philosophy of Kalophagas, the “good eater”.

Christian: My highlight was the dessert with the mango balsamic vinegar. Who would expect a vinegar to go so perfectly with sweet components? This surprised many viewers and opened up a whole new target audience for us.

Bianca: What success do you personally derive from your presence on OE24?

Alexander: The greatest success is credibility. When a star chef like Toni Mörwald works with Gattino, it opens doors in export and in the B2B sector. It is the ultimate seal of quality.

Christian: I can only agree. It’s confirmation of our years of work. We demonstrate that Austrian expertise and Mediterranean raw materials are an unbeatable combination.

Bianca: Alexander, Christian – thank you very much for the interview and continued success in Toni Mörwald’s kitchen!