Getting together with Alexander van Hessen, founder of Berlin Food Week

In the run-up to the event, “The Rooms - A Design and Food Experience” this evening at the FAB Berlin, the Fiandre showroom and location in Kreuzberg, we met up with Alexander van Hessen, founder of Berlin Food Week that starts on 14 October.


Alexander van Hessen is a Berlin-based businessman, for years known in the creative panorama and “Szene” of Berlin for his many ideas to promote the city in a range of cultural areas. In 2014, together with other partners, he founded Berlin Food Week, an event that brings together foodies, gourmands and professional and amateur chefs in the German capital with lots of different initiatives based on the theme of food.
Alexander van Hessen with Christian von Manteuffel and Ken Schluchtmann are the brains behind the invitation-only event called “The Rooms - A Design and Food Experience” at the Fiandre Architectural Bureau, organised with the Floornature team and the gallery manager Dorota Wisnieswka. An event being held on the eve of Berlin Food Week 2017.
We asked Alexander if there is a connection between food and its presentation, in reference to the theme of today's event, where an innovative combination of design materials, music and food accompanies guests on a multisensory exploration of the architectural context. “The event concept is based on the link between design and food. We have brought together food and aesthetics in response to the different areas and stand-out materials of the Fiandre showroom.  Here, structures and textures are mixed and matched to suit the room, in a carefully studied sequence that leads to the spatial discovery of the materials displayed. In short, a design and food experience.”
Of course, we couldn't gloss over his favourite dish - boiled potatoes with herb-infused quark - food from a humble gastronomic tradition that caught us somewhat by surprise. With a laugh, Alexander van Hessen told us that it's one of his childhood memories, a family dish using simple, genuine ingredients that are at the same time very satisfying. Easy to make, light and tasty at the same time, in keeping with our modern times.

Christiane Bürklein

Alexander van Hessen
Berlin Food Week
“The Rooms – A Design and Food Experience”
http://www.berlinfoodweek.de/event/schmecktauch/the-rooms-a-food-design-experience/
Images: courtesy of Berlin Food Week
FAB Berlin - Images by Felix Löchner