The menu
The first apple, the highest growing nasturtiums, the smallest tomato, the last and biggest cucumber, the loneliest five apples, the most flavoursome bunch of herbs, the thinnest leek, the most successful plums, the loudest eggs, the most historically significant apples, the healthiest and tastiest pears, the most beautiful pumpkin, the richest carrots, the most gigantic kohlrabi, the most loving tomatoes, beetroot, herbs, apples, potatoes and carrots, the most useful onions, the tastiest carrots and cucumbers, the most mashable potatoes, the most familiar pears, the shortest-lived apples, the most waterlogged and enormous courgettes, the best growing courgettes, the most sociable potatoes, the most southern potatoes, the most scrumptious beans, the most loved and cherished potatoes, beans and celery, the most chaotic onions, the most divine beans and apples, the most tender courgettes, the most natural potatoes and carrots, the most beautiful apples, the most stolen-from-crows plums, the richest and most sumptuous bacon, the sunniest carrots, the oldest pears, the most spontaneous chillies and peppers, the most decorated and celebrated pumpkin, the sportiest courgette, the heartiest potatoes, the most honest potatoes, the most bombastic leek, the greatest celery and courgette, the happiest eggs, the most unique carrots.
The super-soup of superlatives was commissioned by Schloss Bröllin for the held/in_dorf festival (‚hero/in the village’) in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
During a period of research we toured some of the private gardens and allotments that have been successfully turned over to the production of fruit and vegetables, eggs, meat and honey. Many of the gardeners we encountered were former LPG workers that had either retired or been made redundant following the reunification of East and West Germany. Continuing their farming practices on private land, they represent a wealth of horticultural knowledge and an impressive example of sustainable self-sufficient living.
Reminiscent of vegetable competitions in England, we asked gardeners living along the bus route if they would like to donate something with a superlative characteristic: From the sweetest carrots and oldest pears, to the happiest tomato. Using these donations we cooked a gigantic soup to celebrate an alternative harvest food festival, in which fruit and vegetables became edible super-heroes. Local gardeners were invited to take a seat alongside festival visitors, performers and resident artists.
