Over 300 guests came to the Motorworld at Butzweiler Hof, Cologne's first airfield, for the „Meet & Taste“ on the last Sunday in May. More than 15 gastronomic establishments and vintners once again created a first-class culinary party under the Fine Food Days Cologne motto: „Great People – Crazy Places – Brilliant Food“.
Let's start with the location: What can become of a former airport can be admired at Cologne's Motorworld. The listed former departure hall provided a more than fantastic setting for the food stalls. Dirk Strohmenger, Managing Director of Cologne's Motorworld, was also enthusiastic. His location and the festival fit together perfectly. Around 300 participants enjoyed the spacious location, indoors and outdoors.
Revellers were drawn in by the barbecue aromas as the Big Green Egg team (new festival partner) fired up a storm for the layered praline of cold-smoked steak. Opposite, Julia Komp and her team wowed with gazpacho! A captivating magic trick with honey tomatoes | cucumber | peppers. André Karpinski and his team from Seepavillon by Kaiserschote completed the outdoor stalls. The flambéed Icelandic char with asparagus-lemon balm risotto made us eager for the festival event on 31 August. Several celebrities, including Henning Krautmacher, are expected at the Gourmet Types Matinée.
Back at check-in, all participants were first presented with a gift: the 2025 Riedel edition glass, with an apéritif from Schloss VAUX. A sparkling, big thank you goes to the sparkling wine producers at this point!
In the large former departure hall, greeted Franz Gruber, Board Member of the Fine Food Days Cologne all FineFoodies in attendance. He expressed his special thanks to all the dedicated restaurateurs and sponsors! And, of course, to the guests who gave such a positive reception to this inaugural event.
In the hall, they presented themselves
• Marcus Graun from Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg (with an iced almond and garlic soup and mackerel).
The festival programme features both the Officina della Bistecca and (for the first time) the Vendôme, with Joachim Wissler.
• The Fourth King Jaspreet Dhaliwal-Wilmes with his usual colourful spread.
In the festival programme, he welcomes his mentor and wild herb expert, Jean-Marie Dumaine! For those who don't want to wait that long, on June 15th there's a herb walk with Maja Hue (herb educator) and Yoann Hue, former sous chef of DER VIERTE KÖNIG restaurant.
Marlon Rademacher with his signature dish: Celery Mille-feuille 2018. You can see more of him and his team in 3 spectacular 4-hands dinner events, including one with culinary legend Dieter Müller!
• Sönke Höltgen from KölnSKY with a sweet delicacy: Choux au Craquelin | Rhubarb | Amalfi Lemon Cream | Strawberry. He's already looking forward to his Ferris Wheel Events Vol. 2 – as is his colleague Thomas Sekeres, who was responsible for the excellent service at the May special.
• Hendrik Olfen from HENNE.Weinbar impressed with his veal tartar. Veal tartar | mussels | capers | raw mushrooms. There was also positive feedback for his programme idea: finally, there's a brunch at his restaurant.
There was also a lively atmosphere at the Ginsanity stand. • Maximilian Lorenz presented smoked char statarrtnerin. The same goes for Michael Gliss, who was unable to attend in person but still impressed with his coffee specialities. Right next door, the selection of cakes from Motorworld looked tempting.
Surrounded by impressive unique pieces, happy chatter and enjoyment took place at rustic tables next door. The surrounding stalls repeatedly tempted visitors to try things:
• Volker Buechert represented Jonas Brandt and impressed with Bornheim asparagus | Vegetable ham | Bread foam. Jutta Kirberg was convinced by the dish herself and was pleased with the positive response to her involvement with the Kölner Flora.
• Peter Golla impressed with rabbit | ricotta | mushrooms | chives. Prominent guests gather in „his“ Wolkenburg for a festival centred around Denis Scheck.
• Maximilian Lorenz presented smoked char tartare | heritage cucumber | buttermilk | salmon | caviar and whetted the appetite for his cool event at the KölnArena 2.
In the impressive colonnade, the food stalls lined up
Excelsior Hotel Ernst, taku, Mirko Gaul
• Clostermanns Hof, Thomas Gilles
• Luis Dias
• Gruber’s Restaurant with Denis Steindorfer
• Silver Fern Fams with Shannon Campbell
Sponsor from the first festival year!! Loyal fans were already looking forward to the New Zealand meat specialities, as the festival event at KölnSKY is already sold out.
• Water Tower Bar Botany, Etienne Körner
In culinary terms, that meant:
Salmon trout from the Bergisches Land | Tandoori broth | Chilli | Coriander
• Strawberry | Lovage | Peanut | Lupin miso
Sylvan | Cucumber | Mint Sorbet | Salmon Trout
• Wild garlic fagottini | Asparagus | Goat’s cheese | Dried apricot
Venison loin | Barbecue | Blackberry | Pumpernickel
Scotch egg with Hollandaise espuma
The festival programme includes opportunities to meet again and try out:
• Trainee take-over and champagne dinner at the Excelsior Hotel Ernst
• Wine and dine at Le Gourmet and party at Design Offices Cologne
• Fish Cataplana with Luis Dias and a surprise guest chef
• Austrian hospitality at the WineBANK
• Cocktails & cookery party, including an event to mark the Cologne Lights festival
Alongside the food offerings, there were the new FINE FOOD DAYS COLOGNE – wines in white, rosé and red. The winemakers responsible, Alexander Pflüger, provided personal information. He was already known to some participants after the wine presentation in cooperation with the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. His colleague from the Johann Baptist Schäfer winery was also pleased with the many questions about his wine selection, and there was also a plentiful supply of sparkling refreshments from Schloss VAUX.
Of course, non-alcoholic alternatives were also on offer. Thanks to Gerolsteiner and van Nahmen juices. The unanimous verdict: quince is unbeatably delicious.
For the first time, there was also a Kölsch: the swing-top bottles of Peters Kölsch were a perfect match for the varied programme – and the weather.
For Cologne's tourism board, represented by Managing Director Dr. Jürgen Amann, the Fine Food Days Cologne are also a flagship event for the city. Casual events like the May Special, in particular, demonstrate Cologne's unique approach to enjoyment.
The programme comprises a total of 37 events, some of which are already sold out.
The whole programme under https://finefooddays.cologne/veranstaltungen/
Tickets under www.koelnticket.de
Photo Credit: Rüsing Fotografie
Video Credit: Be a Star Production
