Neptunplatz farmer’s market

The Neptunplatz farmers’ market takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays on the square outside the Neptunbad baths. The Friday market is the busier day; business is slower on the Tuesday, with lots of competition from the supermarkets in Ehrenfeld. One of the stallholders who is there no matter what is 85-year-old Ludwig Broicher. For decades, Ludwig has risen at four in the morning twice a week to sell his wares.

So why would I suggest you visit a market that’s less than busy during the week? Well, for a starter, you can meet Mr Broicher in person. It took nothing more than a brief conversation with him for me to start questioning my daily routine. He and his brother, who live in Cologne-Zündorf, have sold their vegetables on Cologne’s farmers’ markets since 1948 (!). They recently published an illustrated book entitled Die Kunst, Gemüse zu machen (The art of making vegetables). It’s not easy to get hold of – but you might be lucky to get a copy at the market. Look out for the eggs, too, which are delicious, so I am told.

Read up on Ludwig Broicher here: www.ksta.de/was-wirsing-alles-kann-14381178  |  www.rundschau-online.de/ludwig-broicher-taeglich-um-vier-uhr-raus-10437874

Recommended reading: “Die Kunst, Gemüse zu machen“, Published by Eidola Verlag Köln, ISBN: 978 3 00 053 657 1