Words that Taste

After taking part in the Austrian-German-Swiss Festival of Contemporary German Literature, I realized how similar language and cooking really are: both rely on creativity, intuition, and the right balance of ingredients.

Writing, like cooking, requires feeling, curiosity, and the joy of sharing. A sentence can taste like a hearty stew – or be as light as a dessert made of delicate mousse.

Language and food both have the power to nourish.
A good text is reading food, an idea is food for thought, and a dialogue is an appetizer. And when thoughts get a little mixed up, they sometimes turn into a delicious word salad.

Words can have a scent, texts can warm, and stories can connect people – just like sharing a meal.

Stories You Can Taste
Our competition “12 Faces of the Kitchen” brings this connection to life.
It tells the stories of people who cook with dedication – and do far more than prepare meals.
They create community, offer support, and give attention – with every plate and every smile.
We want to share these stories as text bites, reading menus, and stories to savor – served with heart, humor, and humanity.

Cooking is Communication
Every dish tells a story – about origin, experience, and what connects us.
In the end, whether on the plate or on the page, it’s always about the same thing: Creating something that touches the heart.

Petra Reinbacher