Vegan Planet: The fair where Johannes Rauch himself cooked

A few days ago, the tenth edition of the “Vegan Planet” trade fair took place at the MAK in Vienna. Angelika Evergreen was there for Aviation.Direct Foodinsider and took a close look at the range on offer in a personal report.

On November 16th and 17th, a must-visit event for all vegans took place in Vienna. In the beautiful MAK - Museum of Applied Arts, "Vegan Planet" celebrated its tenth anniversary. Of course I was there. I am a flexitarian myself, and for those who don't know what this term means, I'd like to explain it: Flexitarians are people who eat mostly vegetarian food, but also eat high-quality, organically produced meat or fish, and sometimes dairy products such as butter or cheese. Most of them eat 80 percent plant-based food. Sometimes more, sometimes less - flexible, in other words.

Around 100 exhibitors represented

I visited the small fair myself on Saturday, November 16.11.2024, 2024 at lunchtime. The atmosphere that prevailed in the MAK pleasantly surprised me. All exhibitors were very relaxed, friendly and passed on these positive vibes to the guests of "Vergan Planet XNUMX". This paradise for vegans was a wonderful mix of sustainable products, plant-based enjoyment and inspiring ideas about what is possible in vegan cuisine.

According to the organizer, around 100 exhibitors were represented. The trade fair was a spectacle thanks to hands-on workshops and expert lectures. The offerings ranged from cosmetics, fashion and food to exciting conversations among the visitors present. The chairman of the Vegan Society of Austria (organizer of Vegan Planet) was most pleased about this event because it was a successful celebration of plant-based diversity, a source of inspiration, a platform for exchanging enjoyment and food ideas for everyone. The program also offered cooking shows, yoga sessions, lectures and a gourmet corner where all visitors could enjoy the delicious, selected dishes.

Show cooking with Health Minister Rauch

A special guest was Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens), who showed visitors in his cooking show how easy it is to make a tasty, vegetarian dish from plant-based ingredients. What I personally like about this cuisine is how easy it is to conjure up amazing dishes with just a few ingredients. Examples of this are Tyrolean dumplings, vegan meatloaf rolls and much more. What surprised me most was the variety of gluten-free and even sugar-free baked goods. Each one more beautiful and better than the last.

A detox biscuit from Delicia with chlorella algae convinced me. This biscuit is made in a small family business in Croatia. Unfortunately, the homepage is only available in Croatian, but luckily these days we can translate everything online. The company's website is with this link What really surprised me was the culinary journey of pleasure with the Swiss Älplermagronen. For those who don't know it: It is a classic Swiss cheese gratin with potatoes, apples and onions. Of course, this delicacy was prepared vegan.

Sweet tooths were spoiled

For those with a sweet tooth, Vegan Planet was also heaven on earth, as there were many different chocolates, bars, baked goods, muesli and juices to taste. The handmade chocolates from my favorite manufacturer were among them. I got to know them on a vegan walking tour through Vienna a few weeks ago. Behind Dulceria is a gifted duo who have been perfecting the art of vegan chocolate production since the Corona pandemic. A detailed background report on this will soon be published on Aviation.Direct Foodinsider.

What really blew me away from a culinary perspective was the vegan Camembert and the Blue Cheese. I have already tried many vegan "cheese" variations available on the Viennese market, but was rarely overwhelmed by them. Petit Veganne offers a heavenly selection of "cheese variations" from Petit Lorrain, a Camembert, the Petit Alba, a delicacy with a goat cheese aroma, and Petit Azur. The latter product refers to "azur", which translates as "blue". This "cheese" was my personal favorite, which scores with a mild character, with an intense flavor that turns into a beautiful blue coat in a few days. The company also has other flavors in its portfolio, including garlic, turmeric, shallot & chives, and bruschetta. Anyone interested in good taste should give this startup a chance. It has already won my gourmet heart.

Swedish milk alternative inspires

Also interesting was the milk alternative made from potatoes, which was presented by the Swedish company Dug. The three varieties presented are gluten-free and taste better than the alternative products I know of and which are available in Austria. So if you want to try something new, you should give this small company a chance. The Barista, Original and unsweetened versions are available.

Linis Bites presented ten different sweets that are vegan and gluten-free according to the manufacturer. Three to four varieties are currently available in Austria, depending on the retail partner. The rest of the range is delivered to Austria from Munich within a few days upon order. My favorites at the fair were the Pralinis Hazelnut Choco Nougat, the Cashew Caramel and especially the Raspberry Almond, which have such a great raspberry flavor. They taste fresh and have the perfect balance between acidity and sweetness. These Pralinis are the perfect flight companion. They are organic, vegan and gluten-free. The website offers an interesting selection: there is something for every sweet tooth.

Other products, for example my favourite drink Kombucha, Vegan Junk Punk, POSCA, KISSA by AIYA (Matcha), Petit Veganne, Goldblatt (spreads), Dulce Ria (chocolates), DUG (potato drink), Dattelbär, Ritter Sport, Very Good (spreads)Farmii (FrugalTec), Eat Real Snacks (chips), Fair Vegan Organic iChoco (chocolate), Haselherz (chocolate), Schlagfix (vegan iced coffee), Sunflower Family (minced meat & bologna), Spirulix from Austria, Mycorama (mashroom) fast-growing mushrooms are available. With the last-mentioned product, you only have to cut a bag open in an x-shape and after a few days you will have lots of mushrooms. I personally find this a great alternative to store-bought ones. We all know the problem: you buy mushrooms in the supermarket, then something comes up, you forget about them and after two days they are ruined and a case for the organic waste bin. Growing your own vegetables offers many advantages because you almost always have fresh ones at home.

Local start-ups represented

Miso seasoning pastes and soy sauces were represented by a Viennese brand called "Wiener Misco". In general, the trade fair showed that there are numerous small businesses from Austria and even from the federal capital Vienna. For them, Vegan Planet was a great opportunity to draw attention to themselves and win new customers. I personally was able to get to know numerous new products that I can 100 percent recommend to my friends and acquaintances.

Finally, I would like to introduce the newcomer POSCA. The startup is launching delicious craft juices: Sankt Laurent and Baya Marisa and a Posca Romana, a non-alcoholic alternative to wine and sparkling wine. All three drinks are delicious. Especially the Baya Marisa with a great pink color.

Successful trade fair with tips from master confectioner

On the whole, Vegan Planet was a success. For those who prefer to make their own, Lush, for example, had an interesting do-it-yourself offer. There was a workshop every day that interested people could take part in. Master confectioner Melanie Kröpfl offered visitors a baking workshop on profiteroles. So if you've never dared to bake something like that before, you were in the right place. The master shared her know-how and skills with the visitors. She was open to questions of all kinds and provided inspiration for vegan Christmas baked goods. If you like salty snacks, I would recommend the Organic Spice Bit, an oat cashew snack with tomato and herb flavor. I was very happy with my visit and will come back next year. It was a feast of enjoyment at the highest level.

In general, I would like to recommend to all those who are not yet familiar with the topic of vegan nutrition the homepage of the Vegan Society Austria, the one under this link Both initial information and in-depth explanations can be found there. A visit to the next Vegan Planet, which will take place in 2025, is also recommended. And anyone who calls themselves a "foodie" should definitely come and try the products I have presented.

I would also be happy to receive your feedback to [email protected].

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Angelika Evergreen