While playing with his band in the Bavarian holiday resort of Waging am See, he ran into the restaurateur Sebastian Schuhbeck, who committed Alfons in a career in the hospitality business and became his mentor.

After that, he went through practical training in Salzburg, Geneva, Paris, London and Munich (in Eckart Witzigmanns three stars awarded Aubergine).

His chef skills impressed the guests of the Kurhausstüberl in a way that this former village inn became a favourite restaurant for the upper society of Munich and Salzburg.

[2] Since 1990, Schuhbeck has operated a catering service and supplied many first-class events like the Federal Chancellor's celebration, the Ball des Sports and the German music industry's ECHO award ceremony.

This company included the restaurant Südtiroler Stuben, a wine bistro, a catering service, a cookery school, a spice shop and an ice-cream parlour, all based in Munich.