In 2018 everything in the Stuttgart Region revolves around the theme of "Enjoyment". This is the main focus of the Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH's tourism marketing activities. It has invited ten "enjoyment ambassadors" to help it present the region's culinary aspects in a wide variety of ways.

Who could showcase the Stuttgart Region's most enjoyable aspects better than those who are involved with enjoyment and cooking on a daily basis? Ten enjoyment testimonials present their favourite culinary highlights in the region in a very personal way and give their opinion as to what visitors simply mustn't miss.

Starred chef Vincent Klink – a Michelin star has been shining over his "Wielandshöhe" restaurant without a break since 1991 – cultivates not only haute cuisine, but also the tradition of typical regional dishes. He places particular importance on the quality of the ingredients used, on organically-grown vegetables and species-appropriate animal husbandry. Klink likes to buy his favourite regional produce at Stuttgart's Art Nouveau Market Hall, which was built in 1914.

The Swabian restaurateurs Ferdinand and Maximilian Trautwein pursue a style of cooking that is firmly rooted in traditional Swabian cuisine. At their "Gasthaus zur Linde" the food is presented in a modern look that delights the eye as well as the palate. One of their favourite ingredients is Filderkraut, a local variety of pointed cabbage that grows on the fields of the Filder plateau south of Stuttgart.

The young wine grower Moritz Haidle is one of the most successful wine producers in the Stuttgart Region and one of Germany's 60 best young vintners. In 2014 he took over the Karl Haidle wine estate in Stetten from his father, where he now carries on the family tradition. To him, not only good wine, but also good food and good automobiles are an integral part of the Stuttgart Region.

The Stuttgart Region is known not only for its wines, but also for its Sekt, or sparkling wine. The Sektkellerei Kessler was founded in Esslingen more than 190 years ago. Achim Silberhorn, its brand ambassador, shows interested visitors round the company's medieval vaulted cellars and explains about traditional production methods and bottle fermentation. How fitting that his favourite lookout point is surrounded by vineyards: the Royal Burial Chapel on the Württemberg.

Carl Peter Dinkelacker, a partner in the brewery of the same name founded by his great-grandfather, devotes himself to the "juice of the barley", i.e. beer. Even 130 years on, Carl Peter Dinkelacker still sets great store by old-fashioned brewing skills using traditional recipes and regional ingredients.

Karl Maier, the festival host of the "Göckelesmaier" ("Chicken Maier") beer tent also stands for a long tradition. 80 years ago his father was the first to sell crisply grilled chickens at the Stuttgart Beer Festival, and since the late 1990s Karl Maier junior has carried on the company legacy with the help of his wife. When asked about his personal insider tip, Maier recommends a ride on the historical funicular railway from Heslach up to the Waldfriedhof woodland cemetery.

Stuttgart also has it sweeter aspects: at her patisserie the pastry cook Aline John creates dainty, individually designed cakes, some of them based on her grandmother's recipes. "Wunderland", "Goldbarren" or "Flamingo" are just a few of her specialities. Aline John finds pure enjoyment when she walks round Stuttgart's weekly market.

To Esther Weeber-Kirschenlohr, the proprietress of the "Penguin" ice cream parlour, quality always comes first – as anyone who tastes her ices will realise. Her favourite view over Stuttgart's city centre is from Eugensplatz.

Christine Garcia Urbina, alias trickytine, is passionate about cooking, baking, travel and photography, all of which appear in her blog. Enjoyment naturally plays an important role in her life. To her, a hike through the vineyards around Stuttgart is just as typical of the region as a buttered pretzel or home-made Maultaschen (filled pasta).

Sabine Wacker is a city and enjoyment guide who introduces lovers of good food to the region's cuisine and culinary traditions. A native of Swabia, she likes to eat at typical broom taverns and enjoys the panorama from Stuttgart's Television Tower.

More information on the ten testimonials and the Enjoyment Region of Stuttgart can be found under www.tastystuttgart.com

Photo: Culinary Experts, © Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH