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FOOD & LIFE 2017 | A look back at the first day Today was the first day of the 5-day FOOD & LIFE 2017 in Munich. Since 9:30 a.m. this morning, the gates and doors of Messe München have been open, and young and old, big and small, professional and amateur food enthusiasts are invited to FOOD & LIFE 2017, Munich's largest food fair. This year, there are 306 exhibitors in the hall. Compared to 2016 with 287 exhibitors, that's almost 20 more – and the trend is still rising. For those who enjoy eating, drinking, discovering new things, and indulging, I'd like to take you along on my recap of today's first day of the fair. (You can also find more information about the "„Advance notice of FOOD & LIFE 2017“Read more.)

Crunchy: organic cookies from Passau

A first tour

First things first: arrive and get your bearings. When you enter the large hall, packed with exciting stands and exhibitors, it's easy to feel a bit lost. Let me help you with that: The FOOD & LIFE 2017 hall is divided into six different areas. Around these areas, you'll find the corresponding stands, exhibitors, and stations, each themed around a different area. The six areas include the "Cooking Stage," which features exciting cooking shows daily. Professional chefs will be working their magic at the stove, demonstrating, explaining, and showcasing their skills. Right next door is the "Coffee House Munich" area. New this year is the absence of the popular World Coffee Championship, which changes location every two years. So, instead, you can expect other coffee highlights and stands this year (including exciting coffee workshops and seminars in the "Meeting Place for Seminars"). Each area's focal point is thematically coordinated with the corresponding exhibitors. For example, in the coffee area, you'll find various bakeries, confectioneries, ice cream vendors, chocolate makers, and pastry makers; in the aforementioned cooking stage, small manufacturers offer a variety of delicious cooking products. Area number three, the "Bavarian Culinary Workshop," is a particular favorite of mine. It showcases high-quality, locally sourced Bavarian products and encourages visitors to get to know and appreciate these regional specialties. Area number four – the "Best Steak FIRE & FOOD" area, complete with a spirits bar – is perfect for meat and spirits enthusiasts. Everything related to meat, its preparation, and more, as well as beer, whisky, and other spirits, can be found here. You can also sample, compare, and discover your favorite olive oils, wines, and other specialties at various stands. Along the side aisles of these four areas, you'll find additional stands, each tailored to its specific area and theme. With the seminar area and the start-up area, the six areas are complete and ensure a well-structured layout within FOOD & LIFE 2017. (Plans are posted and available everywhere.)

You can find "Paulikocht" in the Start-up Area.„

FOOD & LIFE 2017 – the start-up area

What I find particularly exciting is the start-up area, which presents various start-ups – mostly from Munich: For example, HEILAND Liqueur is pouring its delicious liqueur (Learn more here), Jarfood GmbH produces healthy food (Read more here) and fine apple cider vinegar juices in various varieties, available by the glass or bottle; SUPERDRINK GmbH lives up to its name, offering tastings of super healthy regeneration and energy drinks, while Lunch Vegaz GmbH impresses with organic lunches from around the world for everyone. Grizzly Snacks UG showcases its various types of beef jerky (dried meat) from its product range (exciting and definitely worth trying!); Terra Scra GmbH demonstrates with "Olive Joy" what you can do with good olive oil, and the regional company nearBees GmbH surprises with Bavarian and Munich honey in various varieties (available outside the trade fair, for example). here to get). Incidentally, the start-up founder Anja Licht won the „Crowdfunding Food Contest“ with her products, is now making more and more of a name for herself with „Paulikocht GmbH“ and is showcasing her product range at FOOD & LIFE 2017 (Read more here).

Even this brief overview of the individual areas and the startup area shows just how diverse FOOD & LIFE 2017 is. I spent almost an hour in the startup corner, constantly returning to sample and taste products, completely forgetting that there was another hall behind me with over 300 more vendors. 🙂 So, on we go. I took a close look at most of the stands, chatted a bit, sampled things, and took photos for you. I'd like to introduce a few of them in more detail, but first, my tip: Be sure to stop by the startups and try everything from left to right – and maybe do some Christmas shopping! Onward….

Wouldn't you like to grab it right away?

Visiting other stands and exhibitors

One of my first stops was "Knusperreich." The team and founder Angelika Reiter offer incredibly delicious organic cookies. They're made and sold in Passau. Currently, besides their online shop, there's no other place to buy them in Munich (except for FOOD & LIFE in the coming days – so be sure to check it out!). Another great idea: the Knusperreich "Munich Tin" (available at the trade fair), which lets you choose six of their 24 varieties and take them home in one tin. It's also a perfect gift for any occasion or for Christmas.

„"Eat a Rainbow" – make your food colorful and flavorful!

For any tea enthusiast, the "CHAYOU" stand is sure to be of interest. They offer the finest tea from Japanese tea plantations in Nagasaki. This high-quality tea can be enjoyed hot or cold and has a pleasant and very subtle flavor profile. The founder and tea plantation owner, Masatoshi, will be there with his team, preparing and serving the tea for you. At the stand, you can ask any questions you may have about the tea and also purchase gift sets to take home. Incidentally, "Cha You" stands for "Tea (Cha) Friend (You)," meaning tea lover. (The tea is also available at the delicatessen MIKADO (Baaderstraße), in the Fünf Höfe shopping center, or at "The Victorian House." However, your chance to ask all your questions, taste the tea hot and cold, and purchase different sets is only available until December 3rd at FOOD & LIFE.)

Another highlight was the stand of Confiserie SIMON, which has been producing top-quality chocolate, pralines, punch, and eggnog since 1903 – also a Passau-based manufacturer. The chocolate for their various delicacies and fine pralines comes from Switzerland – and can now be purchased at the fair, in Passau, and online. Be sure to stop by and try Confiserie Simon's punch, which is served deliberately piping hot. It's delicious and also available in large bottles on site (…perfect for cozy punch-filled evenings under the Christmas tree… ;-))

Visit to the Bavarian Culinary Workshop

My next stop was the centrally located stand of the "Genusswerkstatt Bayern" (Bavarian Culinary Workshop) area – the area showcasing Bavarian products and demonstrating what's available "here." There, I had the pleasure of meeting the Neumeier brothers, the first team to venture into processing Bavarian hazelnuts (from cultivation to refinement). Alongside delicious Bavarian beer and cheese, they also offer a variety of hazelnut delicacies. You can ask anything you're interested in about the products on site. For example, I learned that Bavarian hazelnuts are significantly less prone to mold than other hazelnut varieties, offering several advantages in processing. I sampled hazelnut oil, hazelnuts in a cinnamon-sugar crust (not to be confused with the taste of "roasted almonds"), hazelnut butter, and much more. Don't hesitate to chat with the beer sommelier there, too. What's also interesting is that Genusswerkstatt Bayern, as one of its "pillars," offers training to become a sommelier in various areas (wine, cheese, beer, etc.). This is an area you should definitely visit – and be sure to set aside plenty of time.

One stop I made twice to learn more about the product was the Garmisch WILDKAFFEE roastery. Fantastic! Founded in 2007, this company offers 16 different coffee blends (mostly Arabica) – plus four to six seasonal varieties. The owner, Leonhard Wild ("Hardi"), is personally at the machine, mixing cappuccinos, brewing excellent espresso, and answering all your questions about WILD coffee, the roasting process, the brand, and more. If you enjoy coffee, you can buy 1-kilo or 200-gram bags to take home, get advice, and of course, sample the blends. I also learned that a WILD show roastery is planned for spring 2018, which will allow you to taste the WILD team's delicious coffee year-round. (My tip: Buy coffee and logo socks on site. See for yourself… ;-))

„Finally something decent“ shows mom’s recipes in a jar.

Anyone who enjoys cooking should visit "honeyfaktur" and Paul Büki. They offer 12 different varieties of honey, which aren't necessarily meant for spreading on bread, but rather for cooking, topping with salmon on toast, or similar dishes. Classic varieties are also available. The honeys can be purchased in 50, 100, or 250-gram jars for €3.50, €6, or €10, and feature creations like wasabi, lime, and yuzu. Fantastic! For sampling at home or as a Christmas gift, the 12-pack of twelve 50-gram jars (for €29) is a great option. Stop by and let the experienced beekeeper at his stand advise you.

If you get hungry while you're there, stop by Burgis! The dumpling experts at FOOD & LIFE. I dare say that almost everyone who likes dumplings (…so, almost everyone… ;-)) has had a Burgis dumpling on their plate and consequently in their stomach. At the Burgis stand, you can sample the dumplings in various dishes, try miniature versions, and of course, take them home chilled in different varieties. (By the way, Burgis supplies over two-thirds of the Oktoberfest grounds with dumplings, as well as countless restaurants in Munich.) You can also enjoy the dumplings on-site inside the "Entenbraterei" (a beer garden-style area under the exhibition hall roof). So remember: Eat Burgis dumplings!

And I could go on and on. Also quite fascinating: the many gin, whisky, vodka, and spirits vendors. Numerous regional producers like "The Duke," "Soul of Bavaria," "Del Fiore" (with some of the best ice cream in town), and many more are present. Vendors of the finest Swiss cheese (…I, of course, indulged…) are also part of the fair. It's worth stopping by every stall, every meter, every step. Also great for the kitchen enthusiasts among you: "backdeinbrot," who are there with delicious bread mixes. Another interesting stall is Kerstin Spehr's chocolate school, which sweetens Munich and FOOD & LIFE with its small chocolate shop on Neuhauser Schulstraße. I also lingered longer at "Endlich wos Gscheid's" – as the name suggests, Bavarian, from Unterhaching, and specializing in handmade and lovingly preserved delicacies "from their own mothers" according to traditional family recipes. Absolutely delicious!

Green tea from Japan. Refreshingly different!

So that you don't spend the rest of the trade fair reading this, I'll stop here and hope I've whetted your appetite for the weekend (hopefully the one that's been predetermined for FOOD & LIFE). We'll definitely see each other; I'll be stopping by again, of course. Especially for the Munich Whisk(e)y Market on December 2nd and 3rd, 2017 – I'll report back.

My tip for your visit to FOOD & LIFE 2017

Be sure to arrive early in the morning, come hungry, bring an empty bag, and wear flat shoes. 🙂 I didn't follow almost any of that advice (except for the early morning part ;-)) and had to improvise on the spot. The hall is well heated, and you can leave your jackets at the cloakroom, which is always well-staffed and therefore never overcrowded. Since FOOD & LIFE covers a large area, it's not as crowded as a beer tent at Oktoberfest, but still quite comfortable. Don't worry, though; you'll be served politely at every stand without any pushing or long waits, and you'll be invited to sample the food. Tickets cost €13 per day, or you can find information about prices, discounts, directions, and opening hours on the website., Exhibitor ...and more information. Since my heart belongs to food and enjoyment, I simply didn't manage to visit the adjacent Home & Crafts Fair today. Perhaps in the coming days. But for you, all the more reason to arrive at 9:30 a.m. so you can visit both fairs.

+++ This article was created in cooperation with FOOD & LIFE. Thank you! +++
(Image Credits: Cover image, „Endlich wos Gscheid’s“, „Paulikocht“ and „Eat a Rainbow“: GHM/Lukas Barth)

Contact for inquiries

FOOD & LIFE 2017 – Trade Fair for Food, Drink and Enjoyment
Website
Opening hours: November 29th / November 30th / December 1st / December 2nd / December 3rd, 2017 from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM
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