Schneeballen or Snowballs Have Been a Rothenburg Tradition Since the Middle Ages: While running around Rothenburg taking snaps, I was stopped in by tracks by snowballs. No, it wasn’t winter and neither was there a freak snowstorm, but the snowballs that caused me to stop were the neat rows of delicious-looking Schneeballen, a Rothenburg speciality. […]
Beer Gardens – A Fundamental Part of German Culture
Beer Gardens are to Germany What Pubs are to Britain: Beer Gardens (Biergärten) are as fundamental to the German culture as pubs are common to the British cultural landscape. Everywhere you go in Germany, you’ll find restaurants and beer halls with outdoor shaded areas where beer and local food are served. Beer Garden History Beer […]
With Snow and Frost Comes Eiswein or Ice Wine
Eiswein or Icewine are a Type of Dessert Wine Made From Frozen Grapes: The cold weather, snow and frost are elements that are usually not conducive for growing anything. But for producers of Eiswein (German for ice wine), snow and frost are just the perfect conditions that they pray for. So What is Ice Wine? […]
Steckerlfisch – A Bavarian Fish Specialty
Steckerlfisch is a Bavarian Fish Specialty and also a Popular Oktoberfest Food: A graphic food image that you’ll see at the Munich Oktoberfest is at the Fischer-Vroni Steckerlfisch stand. Here you’ll see neatly lined rows of whole fish on skewers being cooked over the very long charcoal grill. Besides being photo-worthy, the steckerlfisch is a […]
Starkbierzeit – Munich’s Secret Beer Festival
Munich’s Secret Spring Beer Festival – Starkbierzeit: Oktoberfest is well known around the world (beer drinker or not). But Munich has another huge beer festival that is not so well publicised. At the Starkbierzeit ask for “ein Doppelbock bitte” and you’ll be served with a very potent double strength beer! “Bock” stands for strong beer […]
Auerbachs Keller Leipzig – Immortalized in Faust I
Auerbachs Keller Leipzig – Goethe’s Favourite Wine Bar During His Student Days: Auerbachs Keller (Auerbachs Cellar) owes much of its fame to Goethe who immortalized the wine tavern in Faust I – In part V, Mephistopheles, the demon, takes Faust to the tavern in an attempt to ruin him, but fails. Goethe frequented Auerbachs Keller […]
Café Einstein – A Classic Viennese-Style Café in Berlin
Café Einstein – A Plush and Elegant Café in Berlin: By the time we finished exploring Unter Den Linden on a chilly and wet Sunday afternoon, a cup of coffee was much needed. There are a few cafés along this Berlin boulevard but it’s hard to go pass the famous Café Einstein. Café Einstein is […]
Nürnberger Bratwurst – Nuremberg’s Distinctive Sausages
The Nürnberger Bratwurst Tastes Best When Freshly Cooked on a Charcoal Grill: Nuremberg is famous for its Nürnberger bratwurst which is traditionally grilled or roasted and served three abreast on a bun with mustard. Whether it is served Drei im Weggla (three in a roll), on a plate with sauerkraut or with potato salad, the […]
Dresden Takes The Cake For its Christmas Stollen
Dresden’s Christmas Stollen is World Famous: The Christmas season brings with it many special treats and one of my favourites is the Stollen. This German Christmas cake, called the Weihnachtsstollen or Christstollen is a loaf-shaped cake made with chopped candied or dried fruit, nuts and spices. Marzipan stollen is my favourite. Although many German towns […]
Cologne’s Brauhaus, Kölsch Beer and Quirky Hospitality
Enjoy Kölsch Beer and Quirky Hospitality at Cologne’s Brauhaus : For the people of Cologne, eating and drinking out is a very social occasion, therefore the venues tend to be loud and jovial rather than hushed and dignified. Cologne‘s famous brauhaus are like microcosms of the city‘s traditional but quirky hospitality. Here are a few […]