Fair Food.

No, this time I'm not talking about food that is paid for fairly - but fair food as in the things I eat when on a fair. 

There is, obviously, a huge difference between going on a fair as a visitor and going on a fair as a vendor, though in both cases, I tend to bring my own food. Most of the time, the things offered at the food stalls are not, um, top-quality stuff in regards to ingredients and taste, and they are usually also quite high-priced. 

When I go to visit the Spiel game fair at Essen, the usual stuff we're taking along is sandwiches, some fruit, and a bit of chocolate or other sweet stuff. There's a nice breakfast in the morning and the group goes to have dinner at an Italian or other place in the evening. Packing and food prep for that is easy, as it's only the sweet stuff and maybe some extra fruit to pack and bring along, the sandwich ingredients are provided at breakfast time, as is more fruit. So nothing to think of or prep in the days before.

When I'm on a fair as a vendor, it's a wholly different picture. Sometimes breakfast is provided, but that's the exception; usually it's pack your own for all the event. Which means packing food that is ready to eat, does not need to be refrigerated, is more or less sensible, easy to eat a bit of and put away again (in case customers come along while you're munching), and preferably also tasty.

Bread and smoked sausages as well as boiled eggs are among the typical things that fit these requirements. Chocolate, of course - my rule is to take one bar of chocolate per day, just in case things happen and there's no time to eat properly. Carrots, radishes, and cucumbers are good choices for getting some fresh stuff that does not wilt when you look at it oddly. But something that is not bread is also very nice to have.

One of my not-bread-meal staples for these occasions is Quarkauflauf - which is, more or less, a crust-free cheesecake with fruit in it. And today's the first time since ages that I'm prepping this. With Zwetschgen as the fruit, that lovely variety of plums that I like so much, and that I find is unrivalled in Quarkauflauf. I don't really know why I haven't made this since the last fair, but I can tell you that I am very much looking forward to this fair food, to be consumed this weekend in Hohenlohe!

In case you're in the region, come see me at my stall, the fair runs Saturday and Sunday in Blaufelden. And if you have suggestions, or a favourite food to take along on travels or events, let me know in the comments - it's always interesting to hear what other people have to keep them going on events!