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That was FOOD & LIFE 2018 in Munich. From November 28th to December 2nd, 2018, Munich's most popular food fair took place once again – FOOD & LIFE 2018. I was there almost every day and now – after a little time to sort things out – I'm taking a look back.

A look back at FOOD & LIFE 2018

Restaurateurs, foodies, gourmets, and anyone interested in culinary arts and gastronomy, new flavors, cooking and cuisine, as well as food and drink in line with current trends, were invited. The 125,000 visitors to the trade fair were greeted by 330 different exhibitors from 13 countries in the spacious Hall C3. Strolling from aisle to aisle – as was my experience – one might not realize that one is surrounded by so many "new culinary ideas" and products, or that one has landed in a seemingly endless gourmet paradise. Trying everything in one day is, in my opinion, very difficult. So I thoroughly enjoyed making the most of each of the five days of the fair and sampling my way through the offerings. The positive overall impression wasn't just mys; 90.4% of the other visitors also rated the event positively.

Food und Life 2018 Muenchen Rueckblick 4-2

There was a lot to discover during the tour of the trade fair.

The start-up area – bigger than ever at Food & Life

Not only experts on meat, coffee, salt, and other products were present, but also prominent chefs, beer and wine sommeliers, and more startups than ever before. Numerous manufacturers from all over Germany were also on hand, showcasing their craftsmanship. FOOD & LIFE 2018 once again proved itself – for me, for the third time in a row – to be a hotspot for exchanging ideas, professional expertise, and foodie knowledge. For five days, visitors could sample products where both artisanal production and quality were always top priorities. And you could taste it. Across the board. Whether salt, meat, cheese, gingerbread, cookies, wine, dates, tea, or delicacies from faraway lands, everything was of impeccable quality and produced with considerable expertise. Ultimately, this is precisely what makes FOOD & LIFE so popular and why it gets "even better" every year. Retailers, restaurateurs, and industry professionals were also present, eager to discover new trends, make new contacts, and expand their networks. This allows the product range to be expanded and developed year after year.

Food und Life 2018 Muenchen Rueckblick 3-2

Learn how to grill perfect meat.

…and what else was going on?

A clear highlight: The BaristaCup, which took place for the first time as part of FOOD & LIFE on December 2nd, the last day of the trade fair. As previously announced by me (Read more hereTalented baristas competed against each other, creating beautiful designs true to the competition's motto, "Latte Art." Johannes Otto from Fürth emerged victorious, consistently impressing with his top-level milk foam artistry. He perfectly executed an exceptional design, flawlessly applying the technique and working with meticulous precision and minimal waste. The jury agreed, awarding first place to the coffee enthusiast, who is currently preparing for the World Barista Championship in Nuremberg in January 2019.

However, no matter when I go through the FOOD Start-up Area Strolling around with the aforementioned 21 startups, there was always something going on. "racoon" not only won the "Next Level" crowdfunding competition of the Food Cluster at the
The Competence Center for Nutrition (KErn) not only participated, but also performed exceptionally well at this year's FOOD & LIFE trade fair. I was impressed by the participating startups, and the startups themselves gave positive feedback looking back on this year's FOOD & LIFE. Their exciting products sold successfully, and networking was a huge success. This was part of my article about the Day 1 of the FOOD & LIFE trade fair You can read a little more about the startups that were present there.

Food und Life 2018 Muenchen Rueckblick 5-2

The star of the day: Perfectly grilled meat.

The Bavarian Ministry of Agriculture, on the other hand, under the banner of "Handmade in Bavaria – 100 Places of Culinary Delight," recognized 100 municipalities with exceptional regional specialties. Alzenau, Amberg, Ettal, and Waing am See were among them, and I visited them as part of the FOOD & LIFE event. "The many positive responses confirm that our Places of Culinary Delight at FOOD & LIFE impressively succeeded in making Bavaria's extensive expertise in specialties visible, tangible, and, above all, gustatory. Hopefully, this will inspire many to embark on a treasure hunt, visit the culinary regions in person, and discover the regional treasures for themselves," said Minister Michaela Kaniber. Incidentally, I have the book featuring the 100 Places of Culinary Delight at home and highly recommend getting a copy, as it's packed with places, stops, and delicacies that are well worth visiting and sampling.Click here to go to the bookThose who had never encountered a meat scout before also had the opportunity to do so at the trade fair. The integrated [feature/device] ensured guaranteed grilling enjoyment. MEAT Point The FOOD & LIFE event. In detail, experienced grilling experts demonstrated how to prepare perfect steaks, which cuts offer special enjoyment, and where to buy which meat.

Final conclusion and hard facts

For me, FOOD & LIFE 2018 was a particularly positive experience. I enjoyed many delicious treats, made new contacts, and gained new impressions. I'm already looking forward to the new year even more. The next FOOD & LIFE ("FOOD & LIFE 2019") is already scheduled and will take place from November 27th to December 1st, 2019. You can find more information on the FOOD & LIFE website linked below.

+++ This article was created in cooperation with FOOD & LIFE. Thank you! +++

Contact for inquiries

FOOD & LIFE 2018 - First Day of the Trade Fair | FOOD & LIFE 2018 - Trade Fair for Food, Drink and Enjoyment
Website
Opening hours: November 28th / November 29th / November 30th / December 1st / December 2nd, 2018 from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM

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