At age 16, Sven applied at the legendary deli store, “Feinkost Noethling”, one of the oldest and most prestigious food outlets in Europe, and the official catering service for the City of Berlin. He became one of the last trainees to be accepted at the 100 year-old institution. During his time at Noethling, Sven learned the finer points of food handling, presentation, professional etiquette, and customer relations, working on a staff that served dignitaries from around the world and catered events attended by royals, including Prince Charles and Lady Diana.

After receiving his diploma from Noethling, Sven’s career preparation continued with an apprenticeship at the world-renowned food market on the top floor of KaDeWe, Germany’s premier department store. This led to a management position and the opportunity to work behind the scenes, which gave him valuable experience in top-level food services and staff coordination. Offering over 3000 varieties of cheese alone, the KaDeWe Market is in fact a European tourist attraction. By the time he had received his business diploma, Sven had also witnessed first-hand the merging of East and West after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. It was a time he counts as one of the most educational and enriching experiences of his life.

By age 19, Sven was ready to apply what he had learned for the benefit of his family business. He eventually took over as general manager and expanded their chain of food booths, exploring new markets spreading from West to East Berlin. The company was now a full-fledged catering and delicatessen business, specializing in corporate parties, large cultural festivals, and special events.

Then came a period of travel, as Sven felt the need to learn more about the different cultures, lifestyles, and cuisines of the world. He hired a full-time manager to look after his family business and over the next two years, he visited and worked in over 30 countries. One of the places he visited was New Orleans, where he was greatly impressed by the city’s delicious food, music, and general zest for life. World travel energized his palette and inspired him to incorporate international influences into his catering menus.

The next big step professionally came in 2003, when he was hired as a caterer for the ”Bread and Butter” Trade Show for Selected Brands - one of the world’s most important fashion industry events. It was his biggest job yet, serving many thousands of guests from around the world. Things went well and before long, he was promoted. For the next five years, he served as Executive Catering Manager for the Bread and Butter’s annual events in Berlin and Barcelona, Spain.

Around this time Sven was compelled to return to New Orleans to visit friends he had made there and experience more of the city’s culture. He decided to make New Orleans his new home and business headquarters. After settling in, he was pleased to discover that although its French and Spanish background may be more well known, this multicultural city also has a longstanding German heritage that resonates to this day! - After all, where would the famous ‘po-boy’ sandwich be without Leidenheimer Bread??

Today, Sven Vorkauf is pleased to be continuing his career in a city with such a rich history and culture. And the Bratz Y'all Staff are excited to be a part of the continuing rebirth of New Orleans!