IMG Saxony-Anhalt: Follow Your Fork - A Culinary Journey Through Saxony-Anhalt

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IMG - Investitions- und Marketinggesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt

22 Dec, 2025, 09:00 GMT

MAGDEBURG, Germany, Dec. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In Saxony-Anhalt, enjoyment is at home: between bakeries, small manufactories and vineyards, stories, traditions and a diversity of flavors await discovery - best experienced right where they originate. Anyone who wants to open the region's culinary treasure chest embarks on a journey to surprising places of pleasure and gains a fresh perspective on the region.

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The Freyburg Wine Spring festival kicks off the wine festival season in the Saale-Unstrut region. Visitors can sample young wines and regional delicacies, accompanied by street music. Photo: Saale-Unstrut Tourism Association/Falko Matte
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Sascha Walz was allowed to top the homemade bagels himself at Café Luma’z in Wernigerode. He searches for culinary discoveries for his portal Genussfinder, a food guide for Saxony-Anhalt. Photo: Genussfinder
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Ronald Haake breeds Wagyu cattle in Kuhlhausen, in northern Saxony-Anhalt. He emphasizes slow, stress-free rearing with high-quality feed, plenty of space, and fresh air. Photo: Genussfinder
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Wagyu beef straight from the pasture on the Havel River: The cattle are bred in Kuhlhausen near Havelberg, in the far north of Saxony-Anhalt. Photo: Genussfinder
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From farm to table: At Brockenbauer Thielecke's farm in Tanne in the Harz Mountains, the meat comes from their own livestock. The family raises the rare Harz Red Highland cattle and the Angler Saddleback pig. Photo: Adrian Liebau, Gastblick.Media
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The phrase "Enjoyment is a must" is part of the culinary philosophy of the Wörlitzer Hof restaurant in Saxony-Anhalt. Here, the focus is on local ingredients, and the menu is more than just regional specialties. Photo: Adrian Liebau Gastblick.Media
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Manuel Flechtner creates natural wines and sells them under the brand "Winzerbar". His great-great-grandfather already cultivated a vineyard near Naumburg in the Saale Valley (Saxony-Anhalt). Photo: Saale-Unstrut-Tourismus e.V./Falko Matte
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When we think of "fine dining," Michelin stars often come to mind—and Saxony-Anhalt has those too. In 2025, the „Pietsch" in Wernigerode was awarded two Michelin stars. Robin Pietsch's „Zeitwerk" and „Speiseberg" in Halle (Saale) each retained their star. Haute cuisine is very much part of the state's culinary landscape.

Yet true enjoyment is often found in small things. To taste Saxony-Anhalt, one might start with regional specialties: Halloren chocolates, Tangermünde chocolate bar „Nährstange", Halberstadt sausages, beef from Harz Red Highland cattle, Garley beer from the Altmark, or Würchwitz mite cheese. As different as they are, they all tell stories of craftsmanship, tradition and regional identity—and spark curiosity for more.

This is where the Genussfinder project comes in. Founder Sascha Walz acts as a culinary guide, navigating from one place of enjoyment to the next. The idea was born after his return from Berlin to the Börde region, when he initially felt disoriented. "I underestimated Saxony-Anhalt from a culinary perspective," he admits today. Through short Instagram videos, he gives cafés, restaurants and manufacturers a platform to share their stories. The success is remarkable: launched in 2025, the channel had around 20,000 followers by year's end. The goal is a growing culinary map, adding about 50 new locations each year.

One of the most surprising discoveries is Havel Wagyu in Kuhlhausen near Havelberg. There, Ronald Haake and David Meyer raise Wagyu cattle and rank among Germany's largest breeders—an unexpected wow effect on the edge of a village.

The „Heimatgenuss Mitteldeutschland" initiative also highlights regional diversity, connecting producers with chefs and restaurateurs across Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Saxony. Today, the network includes more than 700 partners. A flagship project is the "Heimat Menu," featuring at least five locally sourced ingredients to promote quality, sustainability and appreciation for regional products.

The competition "Culinary Saxony-Anhalt" further showcases how diverse local flavors can be. In 2025, 17 products received the "Culinary Star," ranging from strawberry smoothies and mango gin to bread and traditional pastries—some available in curated tasting boxes delivered straight to your door.

Anyone with a passion for tasting and savoring can continue their personal gourmet journey with specialty boxes from the Altmark, the Harz, Halle, Magdeburg or the Saale-Unstrut wine region. Because, culinary speaking, Saxony-Anhalt is above all one thing: a true treasure chest for connoisseurs.

Contact:
Mobil:
+49 172 3221 694
Sabine.Kraus@img-sachsen-anhalt.de

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