New spices at the Viktualienmarkt
Home-made hummus, surrounded by tahini and sesame sauces and an Arabian pesto with cloves and coriander. Add Shakshuka, a sharp tomato sauce, and a hot, deep yellow potato. What sounds like gourmet dining is actually a lunchtime snack. It is one of the most popular dishes among the customers of Theo Lindinger and Dominik Klier.
For about a year these two cool lads have been running their potato stall, “Caspar Plautz”. They sell various types of this popular tuber and create delicious meals in their mini “bistro”. “Each one of our dishes is constructed to include a raw salad, a potato and a topping”, explains Theo Lindinger.
Their stall is not just anywhere – it is located in one of the most traditional sites in the heart of Munich: the Viktualienmarkt. A place that for locals has almost mythical connotations. The same goes for Dominik Klier and Theo Lindinger.
When they were given the opportunity to take over the potato stall at the Viktualienmarkt, they barely hesitated. Since then they have devoted themselves to this lowly tuber. “We associate it with pleasant and happy emotions. For many people it brings back childhood memories. The potato is also incredibly versatile”, says Theo Lindinger with gusto.
‘Every dish consists of a raw salad, a potato and a topping.’
The duo pass this fascination on to their customers: every Tuesday they select the potato of the week, naturally served with their delicious, primarily vegetarian and vegan lunchtime dishes – lovingly prepared, cheap, light and healthy. Hearty, typically Bavarian foods such as Leberkas (meatloaf), Haxn (pork knuckle) and Fleischpfanzerl (meatballs) can be found aplenty at the Viktualienmarkt.
From the outset, however, Theo Lindinger and Dominik Klier realised that it was time for a change: “We felt that there was a demand among the people for something healthy and meat-free. That’s why our dishes have gone down so well,” explains Theo Lindinger. With their vegetarian and vegan dishes they have filled that gap – and that is the secret of their success.
The two young men have brought the winds of change to the market. “We are re-interpreting a traditional business with a long-established foodstuff,” explains Theo Lindinger. Away from static processes and typical dishes towards creative ideas and contemporary marketing. For these two this means not only conversations with their customers but also a profile on Facebook and Instagram. Theo Lindinger, in particular, as the social media and press officer, spends a lot of time and effort showcasing their foods in the virtual world. But even if they have a lot of fun with their digital platforms, their main focus is the personal contact with their customers at their potato stall, “Caspar Plautz”.
Up until a year ago, Theo Lindinger and Dominik Klier were working as a goldsmith and a project manager – and then they discovered the empty stand at the Viktualienmarkt. “I was drinking a coffee in the coffee shop opposite. The previous owner of the stand came in and we struck up a conversation. Everything just happened after that,” recalls Theo Lindinger.
‘Except for three varieties that come from France, we get all our potatoes from regional farmers here in Bavaria.’
After initial scepticism from the long-established stall holders, Theo Lindinger and Dominik Klier soon integrated into the market community. “From the start we were careful to get our direct neighbours involved. For example, we buy the vegetables for our dishes from Trübenecker opposite, and the coffee from the coffee shop,” explains Theo Lindinger. And even when it comes to their more than 20 different types of potato, they make sure that the food miles are kept as low as possible. “Except for three varieties that come from France, we get all our potatoes from regional farmers here in Bavaria.”
A love of potatoes and of good food in general is something the two young men have shared for many years. But “the fact that we are lucky enough to have taken over a stand in Munich’s Viktualienmarkt, that’s something we never expected to happen,” exclaims Theo Lindinger, his eyes shining with delight. The two are still incredibly enthusiastic about their work on the potato stall and their regional products – and it is precisely this combination of tradition, modernity and passion that attracts so many satisfied customers to their stall each day.
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