Baking and beverages, coffee and confectionery, art and awards – Internorga 2019 has got it all.
It’s a landmark show in the European foodservice calendar, with highlights including fundraising runs and a barbecue court in 2017 and international foodservice forums and a craft spirit lounge in 2018.
With the world’s foodservice consultants and industry leaders convening, what is there to do during the downtime? Read on to find out.
Food
If you need a bite to eat after a hectic morning, strolling across the river to Café Gnose could be just the trick. The selection of cakes and breakfasts ranges from the traditional to the innovative, with an English language menu for international visitors.
No visit to Hamburg would be complete without sampling some authentic German cuisine. Wiener schnitzels and sauerkraut feature prominently at Das Dorf, all locally sourced and conveniently located just across the river from the conference centre. Honourable mention to Casse-Croute, popular with the locals and well placed for both the conference and the Hamburg opera.
Central European food is not renowned for meat- and dairy-free fare. But with veganism gaining popularity across the continent, Happenpappen is leading the way in shaking up stereotypes with its tasty selection of plant-based burgers. If you’re looking for something a bit different, Quan Do also comes highly recommended; it’s affordable, accessible and has vegan options aplenty.
Entertainment
The Reeperbahn is the Hamburger’s hub for culture and nightlife. Not for the faint of heart, the district has a reputation as one of Germany’s most famous red light districts. But it’s also home to numerous bars and restaurants, with tour guided pub crawls widely available. It’s also worth a visit for music fans as the place where the Beatles cut their musical teeth.
Volksparkstadion and Millerntor-Stadion
Hamburg hosts two football teams; former Champion’s League winners Hamburger SV based in the Volksparkstadion, and the more alternative St Pauli based at the Millerntor. Both currently play in the German second division, and attending a match is a sure way to sample a slice from the bundt cake of German culture and history. Hamburger SV have a home game on the Saturday in the middle of the conference; alternatively, turn up a few days early and you can watch the two play each other in the local derby at St Pauli.
If a full day at a foodservice show has got you tired of regular sized people, kitchens and food, head south to Miniatur Wunderland where the scenery is small and the joy is gigantic. Situated in Hamburg’s historic Speicherstadt – the old warehouse district – it comes highly recommended and is well worth a visit.
Culture
If you’ve got a hankering for culture, the Hamburg State Opera is only a stone’s throw away from the conference centre. Shows are scheduled throughout the conference; sure to provide an evening of sonorous entertainment.
Hamburg is well supplied for concert halls, and the Elbphilharmonie (pictured) is perhaps the most spectacular. Even if you’re not visiting for an event, it’s the best place in Hamburg to get a view of the city’s cathedrals and its harbour. If you’re in the area having just spent the day looking at miniature landscapes, why not swing by.
Soviet Submarine B-515 was once the scourge of Western navies, a torpedoed menace patrolling the seas at up to 18 miles per hour. It’s now the venue of a lovely educational day out not too far from St Pauli.
Relax
Hamburg rose to affluence as a port city, and the harbour remains one of its finest features. Taking a boat trip is a must if you can spare a couple of hours – a guided tour will set you back roughly 20 Euros, but you can buy an all-day public transport ticket and get the same experience for cheaper.
Last but not least, Planten un Blomen is a city park just down the road from the conference centre on Marseiller Str. If you need some time away from Internorga’s high-powered foodservice action, this is the place to go.
Internorga 2019 takes place on 15-19 March at Hamburg Messe und Congress. For more information, visit internorga.com
Thomas Lawrence
