The Institute of Culinary Art (ICA) is a network association with a state-recognised training and further education institution for professionals in the gastronomy and hotel industry. At the conference, which takes place annually at different locations, representatives from the gastronomy and food industry meet to analyse trends and exchange ideas. In June 2016, an industry representative from the ICA network – Deutsche See – hosted the conference for the first time and invited the participants to Bremerhaven.
In planning the conference, our task was to supplement the existing technology in the Bremerhaven Municipal Theatre, as well as to provide culinary catering for the guests in the outdoor area in front of the theatre. The latter was done in cooperation with Deutsche See, which presented its products and services.
The special challenge was the logistics. The theatre is located in the middle of the inner-city pedestrian zone. There were only very short time slots available for the delivery of materials as well as for assembly and dismantling, so that these preparations also had to run according to a meticulously timed schedule.
Meanwhile, a second team built the setting for the evening event in the “Forum Fischbahnhof”. Our design motto here followed a typically Nordic look – “plank” style, everything made of wood, with accents in white – in which the culinary theme of fish took centre stage. Everything was designed to support communication among the guests in the best possible way and to keep the guests moving for networking.
