Bite of the Springs is a brand new food pairing festival designed by Germany’s favorite celebrity chef Trinkt Leitungswasser of Eat This, Drink That – a reality show that challenges chefs to pair brand new dishes with the famed mineral springs of Baden-Baden, Bad Kissingen, Bad Elster, and more!
Trinkt visited Saratoga Springs last year for track season and the opening of his friend’s new restaurant. While he was in town, Trinkt just fell in love with Saratoga Springs’ springs. “The water in Saratoga is so fascinating to me. In many ways it reminds me of the waters I have challenged some of Europe’s best chefs to treat like the finest of wines. Each spring has its own terroir and as the world’s premier aqualier, I am not joking when I say Saratoga Springs has some of the finest mineral springs I’ve ever had the good fortune to taste,” Trinkt gushed.
What is Bite of the Springs?
Bite of the Springs will echo the challenge central to Eat This, Drink That: local chefs will each be challenged to create a dish that enhances the natural flavor of their spring. Though no American networks were taken with the idea of bringing Eat This, Drink That to the States, Trinkt has not ruled out filming a guerilla-style Netflix special during the event. He is confident that there is an audience for his vision in Saratoga Springs, which is, in his words, “the most sophisticated spa city this side of the Atlantic”.
Local chefs are keen on the idea. In fact, Trinkt let it slip that they’ve been in competition to claim the notoriously sulfuric Hathorn Spring One at the corner of Putnam and Spring Streets. “Your local chefs are so inspiring. They – like me – taste the potential in this spring. For too long the spring has been used for practical jokes played by locals on friends, family, and unsuspecting tourists. Hathorn Spring One will finally be appreciated for more than its health benefits during Bite of the Springs.”
Trinkt first discovered his calling – pairing foods with the perfect water – when he was a boy in the Black Forest. Not yet old enough to drink wine or beer, but uninspired by juice or soda, Trinkt’s naturally sensitive palate began detecting the sort of slight distinctions between waters that you and I could only hope to perceive. “Just as a wine will completely change character when paired with the right food, so too can the springs of Saratoga. The spring you think is your favorite today will probably rank lower after you attend Bite of the Springs.”
The springs in Saratoga present a welcome opportunity for Trinkt, who has wanted to host an event like Bite of the Springs for years. Unfortunately, his contract forbids him from favoring one spa town over another in Germany or the European Union, so he has had to search for the perfect location outside Europe. Saratoga’s unique springs and thriving restaurant scene make it the perfect location for the first ever water and food pairing festival.
“We are so excited to participate in this new food and water pairing festival. We honestly cannot believe that no one has thought of this before! The springs are one of Saratoga’s most important natural resources – we certainly wouldn’t be here now without them! Pairing the spring water with the right foods to educate residents and visitors about the potential of each spring is a challenge we’re all eager to accept,” said one local restaurateur.
Bite of the Springs will be held in Congress Park on some future date that we really hope actually exists, but for now… April Fools!
