“You learn from your mistakes” – The founders’ year-end wrap-up over snacks and beer
In late December 2025, the Mentor Roundtable in Fulda, together with the Mentor Club and Region Fulda Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft mbH, enjoyed a very special evening at the Enzianhütte: a “Fuck-up Night” for the restaurant industry that offered encouragement while also providing an honest look behind the scenes of one of the most challenging industries of our time—with an eye toward the year 2025.
In a relaxed atmosphere, our speakers—Andreas Rau from Fuldaer Haus, Dominik Frank from Gastro Frank in Fulda, and René Stolz and Maximilian Harth from Enzianhütte Gastronomie GmbH—shared their personal experiences. Bureaucracy, guest chaos, and staffing issues. They spoke about decisions that didn’t go as planned, bureaucratic hurdles that took a lot of energy to overcome, and lessons learned that nevertheless opened up new perspectives for them.
This openness deserves great respect. Especially in the restaurant industry, which continues to face enormous challenges even after the COVID-19 years—from having to repay government aid to strict local regulations—we need people who are willing to share their stories and talk openly about setbacks.
Heike Kunte-Link summed it up perfectly that evening: We have true beacons of light in our region—people who lead the way, remain visible, and inspire others with their openness. The Fuck-up Night was marked by appreciation, honest conversations, and inspiring ideas—and above all, by the feeling that, as a region, we are especially strong when we stay connected with one another.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved who made this evening possible—and to everyone who had the courage to share their experiences.
